Stories Behind the Story

Hiruni

I was so fortunate that my online path crossed with that of my illustrator, Hiruni Kariyawasam. I love her whimsical watercolor illustrations. She is so talented and makes the words I write for my children’s books come alive in the pages. Now three books in, it has been fun to get to know her from across the world and a nine-hour time difference. As we started Sled Ride Down Unrue Street, I discovered that Hiruni has never had the opportunity to see snow. Although I shared pictures and notes, it’s simply not the same. Regardless, Hiru was able to create beautifully illustrated snowy scenes in Sled Ride. When I asked her to include her little girl self in one of the scenes, I was so excited to find Hiru making a her first snow angel in the pages of this little book. I sure hope Hiruni gets the opportunity to go sleigh riding, have a snowball fight, and make many snow angels one day.

Spot

Spot was not my dog. He was my brother’s dog. I have only a slight recollection of Spot from just before we moved from “the round house” on Ohio Street when I was four. I do remember the round house though. I could ride my tricycle in a circle passing through the four central rooms round and round, and round again. I likely drove the rest of the family crazy with my constant path - but that I don’t recall either.

Spot was an outside dog and a mutt I guess. None of us remember exactly his mix. But the best thing about him was he, like many dogs, loved a job. Doug, my brother, learned this one winter’s day while riding his sled down Ohio Street. Doug rode down the hill on his sled many times, just to pull it back up the hill and do it again. Of course, Spot ran down the hill alongside Doug and trotted back up with him time and time again. After a while, starting to tire of the repeated uphill climb, even for a nine year old, Doug got an idea. He made a harness and let Spot pull his sled up the hill. This time Doug walked along as Spot happily did a job. I didn’t see him but I can imagine his proud prance, head high and tail up (as my Winnie does when she carries her stick on our walks).

Although Spot wasn’t around long after we moved to Unrue Street, I liked this little story of him. My tribute to Spot shows up in the pages of Sled Ride Down Unrue Street. You can spot Spot (smiles) in the pages of this new book.

The Making of Junebug

My dad called me Sissybug. My mom called me Carol June. My friend, Donna Gay, called me Junebug. When I was first starting my author journey and knowing that I had many ideas for children’s books in my head, I searched for a meaningful name for my book business. I wanted something that sent me back to those childhood memories which are the foundation of my children’s books. I settled on Junebug Tales Publishing.

As Hiruni, my illustrator, worked through Potatoes, Papaw, and Me, using pictures I sent her of my grandfather, his house, and myself as a little girl, Junebug came alive in the pages. Since then Junebug has become the face of Junebug Tales Publishing. She shows up on my website, on announcements, on my emails, and on my displays. Most recently, Junebug showed up in my newest book riding her sled down Unrue Street with her friends.

I don’t know if Junebug will ever be named in any of my future stories, but I expect her to keep showing up. And now YOU will know who she is when she does.

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