The Story Behind the Writing of One Pelican at a Time for Children's Book Week

A note before the post...Please take a look at the PBS GulfWatch video on the writing of One Pelican at a Time at the bottom of the post.  Please don't forget to vote, and the other authors' blog addresses are below as well!

One Pelican at a Time is a book that should not have been written.   Strange thing, one might think, for an author to say about her own book.  It is, though, quite true.

The first book in the Bella and Britt Series, Bella Saves the Beach, was slated to launch within weeks, when a major ecological catastrophe occurred in the US.  It was the Deepwater Horizons oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico on April 20, 2010. 

My publisher Lynda Burch at Guardian Angel Publishing and I agreed that a book had to be done about such an event.  She thought the Bella and Britt series was the perfect vehicle to use and she was right.

  Lynda shelved "Beach Bella," and I went to work on Pelican.  (It was yet to be named.)  We both wanted the book to be the first one in the US, and it was!  We're very proud of that.

Normally, a book takes months or more to complete.  I worked night and day on the manuscript and finished it in six weeks.  Actually, I don't know if I should be proud or embarrassed about it!

One Pelican at a Time turned out to be a labor of love.  I had lots of encouragement from our wonderful publisher, Lynda.  And though I worked flat out, I never once felt under anyone's "gun" except my own.

I am delighted to say that Pelican stayed on Amazon's Bestseller List for Children for18 weeks.  It won the Children's Classics Seal of Approval and was nominated for a Global eBook Award.  PBS Tampa did a feature on my writing of Pelican for their series GufWatch.  It can be viewed at the very end of this post.

I would be remiss if I did not mention the fabulous artwork by Samantha Bell.  She is a much sought after watercolorist, and the work she did for the whole series is beyond belief.  What a magical talent is hers.

Pelican, then, led the way for the Bella and Britt Series to come.  And what about Bella Saves the Beach?  That is the next book to be published.  A little late but all due to a good, but tragic, cause.

Mayra Calvani - www.mayrassecretbookcase.blogspot.com

Margo Dill - www.margodill.com/blog

Margot Finke – www.hookkidsonreading.blogspot.com

Donna McDine - www.donna-mcdine.blogspot.com

Nancy Stewart - www.nancystewartbooks.blogspot.com

Kai Strand - www.kaistrand.blogspot.com

Nicole Weaver - www.mysisterismybestfriend.blogspot.com

Disclaimer:

Entry during the Children's Book Week celebration by Guardian Angel Publishing does not guarantee winning the FREE tote bag of Guardian Angel Publishing books, or the FREE picture book manuscript critique by Margot Finke. Winner of the FREE picture book manuscript critique by Margot Finke shall not hold Ms. Finke liable in publication success of submitted picture book manuscrip

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Nancy Stewart Interview at Pump Up Your Book!

My interview today at Pump Up Your Book, is one I've been looking forward to for some time.  I have enjoyed working with Cheryl Malandrinos, who is so effective at what she does! 

This is an in-depth interview, and we speak of many things, both intellectual and "of the business" as well as some fun questions. 

Please stop by, and find out more about One Pelican at a Time and its author, such as a photo of then five year old Nancy.  There is a photo of a bridge over the Cam River in Cambridge, UK.  I just happen to be in the picture.

I am also pleased to announce that Pelican has been nominated for a Global eBook Award. 

Interview at Blogcritics Today

Skip, walk or run to Blogcritics today!  This is the thinking person's blog, and I am happy to be included in an interview.  I answer all sorts of intriguing questions.  And I give away a recipe that allowed me graduate from a Cordon Bleu course in London! 

When my interviewer asks the question, find out where I would be in a fantasy situation.  (Well, actually, I was really there...)

And find out why I think A.A. Milne is the best!  It has to do with long walks on Hampstead Heath in London.

Last, but certainly not least, we talk about the characters in One Pelican at a Time:  A Story of the Gulf Oil Spill. 

Oh, one thing more:  I am happy to announce that Pelican has been nominated for the Global eBook Awards in Children's Picture Book Fiction.

Bella, Britt, Pelian and I want to say thank you and also say how appreciative we are for this nomination!

Pelican Nominated for Global eBook Award

I'm delighted to announce One Pelican at a Time:  A Story of the Gulf Oil Spill, has been nominated for the Global eBook Awards in Children's Picture Book Fiction.

The Old Crooked Beak Pelican, Bella, Britt and I are thrilled and excited by this nomination.  We want to thank our publishing house, Guardian Angel Publishing, too, for being so supportive and helpful in everything we do. 

And, of course, Mr. Pelican thinks this whole thing happened because he was interviwed two days ago at The Plot.

Not so sure, Mr. Pelican, but maybe...