Welcome Raven Howell!
Thanks so much for joining us.
You have such a unique name.
How did your parents come up with this?
Hi Patricia! You’ve had such talented guest authors and illustrators on your site – it’s fabulous to be here!
A few people know that my father is a published poet, who has had a long spanning writing career with popularity in Eastern Europe, particularly in the country he was born in, Latvia. With that, the question often posed is, “Were you named after Edgar Allen Poe’s The Raven?” I wish I could say there was an interesting story there about that, but no, I was not. My father however, is one of the biggest influences in my life as a poet, and his speaking engagements, poetry readings and book events were a part of our family life growing up.
Tell us a little bit about yourself.
I grew up in South Jersey, the best of both worlds - when not traveling we were enjoying long, languid summers camping and shell seeking at the Atlantic seashore. On the other hand, we were a part of Philadelphia’s city life most weekends.
My husband and I chose to raise our own family in New York’s Hudson Valley where we still reside. This is truly an inspirational spot for a poet at heart like me – surrounded by mountains, morning mists and the river’s wildlife. I write daily for both children’s magazines and books. Meanwhile, I really look forward to the random text I get from either of my college bound sons!
-
Where did you get your inspiration for Shimmer? It will be out October 2017. Can it be pre-ordered?
My inspiration for Shimmer came from a childhood that celebrated the evening hours as magical! I spent many years as a child and young adult enjoying a picnic and singing party by firelight during summer solstice or playing a night-time version of hide and go seek with neighborhood friends. This book is not so much a general bedtime read as it is an encouragement for children to feel safe and have fun with the whimsy of night – how silly opossums are in their hanging upside down in a tree during the midnight hour, in imagining a fairy circle dance taking place in the woods outside while being told to hit the sack by 8 p.m. or the fickle plight of flickering firefly lights, making it hard to catch them.
The release date for Shimmer, Songs of Night is October 17th and it is available now through my publisher: https://www.clearforkpublishing.com/coming-soon/shimmer/
Or online bookstores such as Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Shimmer-Songs-Night-Raven-Howell/dp/1946101311/
What has led you on this road as a writer? And how long have you been writing for children?
I recently read the beautifully prose-written book by Kwame Alexander, Solo, and at one point, the dialog between the characters asks, “How do you do it?” and the response is, “How do you wake up in the morning?”…..We always have the option of letting inspiration, words, poetry find us! That’s the road.
As long as I can remember, I’ve written poetry and songs. Before my Kindergarten year, I would come up with poems – my grandmother jotting down my sing-song-y verse or story before I learned to write myself. Even at that elementary school age, my mother submitted my poetry to some children’s publications and then I was off and running to a life long dedication!
Did you correspond with the illustrator for your new book? Tell us how this worked for you.
Patricia, it is such a pleasure to work with Carina Povarchik, the illustrator for Shimmer. We have mutual respect for what we do and really continue to be a “team”. In fact, I know we’ve built a friendship that will certainly continue. Spork’s editor, Callie Metler Smith, matched us together perfectly. After my manuscript was accepted for publication, I was able to give art directives and share ideas for the visual aspect, and the Universe cooperated! Carina lives in Argentina, but being that I write and work both day and night, we usually correspond back and forth with ease.
Carina was very present and hands on, with daily or weekly updates on the illustrations she was working on. She kept bouncing her ideas and pictures over to me, the editor and her agent for feedback. Of course, we loved everything she was submitting, but she was very compromising with a few of her drawings and my suggestions. And there was one poem she didn’t quite get an image for. When I explained the verse, she poured her heart and soul into it and it became the gorgeous illustration for my poem, Sandman!
What other books are you working on for future publication?
I have another release coming out this fall titled A Star Full of Sky that I am super psyched about, too! It’s a compilation of 22 poems for kids ages 7 and older published by Daffydowndilly Press. A true, straight-forward children’s poetry book with some sweet black and white illustrations by NYC artist Caryn Schafer, I will be showcasing it in school classrooms.
In 2018 I’m contracted for a couple of more books – both children’s poetry, and a rhyming picture book. And I will begin working with a couple of brand new publishing houses, so I have a full schedule and am having a blast!
Is there anything else you’d like your readers to know?
I hope your readers will visit my website which is chock full of tips and information for teachers, parents, book lovers, and writers and poets of all ages!
Raven, do you have any book signings coming up? We’d love to join in.
My book signings/poetry workshops will be popping up as my two releases become available to the public, and I’ll have information on when and where I’ll be on my FB pages and website.
Thanks again, Patricia, for this wonderful opportunity to share! Best wishes to all your readers, writers, friends!
You can find Raven Howell @:
Website: http://www.ravenhowell.com
FB: https://www.facebook.com/raven.howell.75
FB book page: https://www.facebook.com/dozypoems/
We enjoyed this tremendously!
Thank you Patricia, and here’s to reading, rhymes and books!
Thanks again!
Thanks so much for joining us.
You have such a unique name.
How did your parents come up with this?
Hi Patricia! You’ve had such talented guest authors and illustrators on your site – it’s fabulous to be here!
A few people know that my father is a published poet, who has had a long spanning writing career with popularity in Eastern Europe, particularly in the country he was born in, Latvia. With that, the question often posed is, “Were you named after Edgar Allen Poe’s The Raven?” I wish I could say there was an interesting story there about that, but no, I was not. My father however, is one of the biggest influences in my life as a poet, and his speaking engagements, poetry readings and book events were a part of our family life growing up.
Tell us a little bit about yourself.
I grew up in South Jersey, the best of both worlds - when not traveling we were enjoying long, languid summers camping and shell seeking at the Atlantic seashore. On the other hand, we were a part of Philadelphia’s city life most weekends.
My husband and I chose to raise our own family in New York’s Hudson Valley where we still reside. This is truly an inspirational spot for a poet at heart like me – surrounded by mountains, morning mists and the river’s wildlife. I write daily for both children’s magazines and books. Meanwhile, I really look forward to the random text I get from either of my college bound sons!
-
Where did you get your inspiration for Shimmer? It will be out October 2017. Can it be pre-ordered?
My inspiration for Shimmer came from a childhood that celebrated the evening hours as magical! I spent many years as a child and young adult enjoying a picnic and singing party by firelight during summer solstice or playing a night-time version of hide and go seek with neighborhood friends. This book is not so much a general bedtime read as it is an encouragement for children to feel safe and have fun with the whimsy of night – how silly opossums are in their hanging upside down in a tree during the midnight hour, in imagining a fairy circle dance taking place in the woods outside while being told to hit the sack by 8 p.m. or the fickle plight of flickering firefly lights, making it hard to catch them.
The release date for Shimmer, Songs of Night is October 17th and it is available now through my publisher: https://www.clearforkpublishing.com/coming-soon/shimmer/
Or online bookstores such as Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Shimmer-Songs-Night-Raven-Howell/dp/1946101311/
What has led you on this road as a writer? And how long have you been writing for children?
I recently read the beautifully prose-written book by Kwame Alexander, Solo, and at one point, the dialog between the characters asks, “How do you do it?” and the response is, “How do you wake up in the morning?”…..We always have the option of letting inspiration, words, poetry find us! That’s the road.
As long as I can remember, I’ve written poetry and songs. Before my Kindergarten year, I would come up with poems – my grandmother jotting down my sing-song-y verse or story before I learned to write myself. Even at that elementary school age, my mother submitted my poetry to some children’s publications and then I was off and running to a life long dedication!
Did you correspond with the illustrator for your new book? Tell us how this worked for you.
Patricia, it is such a pleasure to work with Carina Povarchik, the illustrator for Shimmer. We have mutual respect for what we do and really continue to be a “team”. In fact, I know we’ve built a friendship that will certainly continue. Spork’s editor, Callie Metler Smith, matched us together perfectly. After my manuscript was accepted for publication, I was able to give art directives and share ideas for the visual aspect, and the Universe cooperated! Carina lives in Argentina, but being that I write and work both day and night, we usually correspond back and forth with ease.
Carina was very present and hands on, with daily or weekly updates on the illustrations she was working on. She kept bouncing her ideas and pictures over to me, the editor and her agent for feedback. Of course, we loved everything she was submitting, but she was very compromising with a few of her drawings and my suggestions. And there was one poem she didn’t quite get an image for. When I explained the verse, she poured her heart and soul into it and it became the gorgeous illustration for my poem, Sandman!
What other books are you working on for future publication?
I have another release coming out this fall titled A Star Full of Sky that I am super psyched about, too! It’s a compilation of 22 poems for kids ages 7 and older published by Daffydowndilly Press. A true, straight-forward children’s poetry book with some sweet black and white illustrations by NYC artist Caryn Schafer, I will be showcasing it in school classrooms.
In 2018 I’m contracted for a couple of more books – both children’s poetry, and a rhyming picture book. And I will begin working with a couple of brand new publishing houses, so I have a full schedule and am having a blast!
Is there anything else you’d like your readers to know?
I hope your readers will visit my website which is chock full of tips and information for teachers, parents, book lovers, and writers and poets of all ages!
Raven, do you have any book signings coming up? We’d love to join in.
My book signings/poetry workshops will be popping up as my two releases become available to the public, and I’ll have information on when and where I’ll be on my FB pages and website.
Thanks again, Patricia, for this wonderful opportunity to share! Best wishes to all your readers, writers, friends!
You can find Raven Howell @:
Website: http://www.ravenhowell.com
FB: https://www.facebook.com/raven.howell.75
FB book page: https://www.facebook.com/dozypoems/
We enjoyed this tremendously!
Thank you Patricia, and here’s to reading, rhymes and books!
Thanks again!
