MO Day #5: Lauren Kerstein Prunes Evergreen Themes

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February 15, 2022 - Registration Post Hello March On With Mentor Texts!

AND NOW, HERE'S OUR MENTOR...

Lauren H. Kerstein Looks at Unique Spins on Evergreen Themes

In her book, Big Magic: Creative Living Beyond Fear, Elizabeth Gilbert says:

“When an idea thinks it has found somebody – say, you – who might be able to bring it into the world, the idea will pay you a visit. It will try to get your attention…The idea will try to wave you down (perhaps for a few moments; perhaps for a few months; perhaps even for a few years), but when it finally realises that you’re oblivious to its message, it will move on to someone else.”

If you say yes to that idea, Gilbert says, “Now your job becomes both simple and difficult. You have officially entered into a contract with inspiration, and you must try to see it through, all the way to its impossible-to-predict outcome.”

And therein lie your grand challenges:

Seeing an idea through to its impossible-to-predict outcome.

Seeing it through in the most unique way possible.

And harnessing the power of your experience—the richness and uniqueness YOU bring to the book.

The moment I embraced the fact that I couldn’t separate the mental health clinician in me from the author in me, my writing changed. I was able to approach Evergreen topics in unique and more authentic ways. I challenge you to look for uniqueness in mentor texts and to demand that of your own writing.

Here are a few examples of books that take an Evergreen idea (an idea that might knock on the doors of many creatives) and spin it in a unique way.

Beaming Books, September 2021

HOW TO RETURN A MONSTER by Charlotte Offsay and Rea Zhai tackles the Evergreen topics of a new sibling, jealousy, and sibling rivalry in a wonderfully fun and unique way.

The cover says it all: “Return to Sender.”

Magination Press, February 2021

I couldn’t resist featuring my latest release.

HOME FOR A WHILE by Natalia Moore and ME combines my social worker, author, education, and parenting backgrounds. It takes the Evergreen concepts of love, belonging, seeing your strengths, emotion regulation, and trust and presents them in a unique setting (foster care) in a unique way.

“Maggie, is this my home for a while?”

Sterling Children's Books, August 2019

MOLDILOCKS AND THE THREE SCARES: A ZOMBIE TALE by Lynne Marie and David Rodriguez Lorenzo is Fractured Fairy Tale, Halloween, humor, and heart all wrapped up into a unique and satisfying story.

“One chilly night, Papa sliced finger sandwiches and brewed a batch of Alpha-Bat Soup.”

Little Bee Books, September 2020

MOOTILDA’S BAD MOOD by Corey Rosen Schwartz, Kirsti Call, and Claudia Ranucci offers a rollicking, rhythmic, punny, and funny approach to feelings and emotion regulation.

“I’m in a bad MOOOD!”

“Hay, hay there now, don’t have a cow!”

Clarion Books, May 2020

SWASHBY AND THE SEA by Beth Ferry and Juana Martinez-Neal features a grumpy yet likeable adult main character, a feisty and loveable child (and her granny), and the mischievous sea. The unexpected twists and turns add up to a beautiful, unique multi-layered friendship story.

“And, once again, the sea fiddled, just a little…”

Zonderkidz, April 2019

A KITE FOR MOON by Jane Yolen, Heidi E.Y. Stemple, and Matt Phelan pays homage to an important historical moment/person (Neil Armstrong) in a wonderfully, unique way. Yolen and Stemple exquisitely create a hopeful, child-like sensibility that Phelan continues through his gorgeous art.

“He tried to hug Moon as his mother did to him whenever he was unhappy. But Moon was too far away.”

Owlkids Books, October 2021

THE SOUR CHERRY TREE by Naseem Hrab/Nahid Kazemi offers a unique approach to love, loss, and grief. This story is richly layered with Iranian culture, magical thinking, and an opening line that makes you say, “what?” and want to keep reading.

“I bit my mom on the toe this morning.”

Read, write, illustrate, and remember… the more uniquely you tackle an Evergreen theme, the more deliciously marketable your book and hook and layers will be.

And now for a few last items:

Making Sense of the Mentor Text Madness: I have tried many different ways to record, remember, and make mentor text reading as meaningful as possible. This year, I created a template (if you know me, you know I love templates) and so far, I love it! You can find it here: https://laurenkerstein.net/critiques%2Ftemplates

A Few More For Your List: And lastly, here are a few more books from your #ReVISIONweek crew (our first tune-up day of the year is January 26th) that might be fun to add to your list of unique books to read.

As I always say:

Feel. Write. Risk.

Lauren

Lauren H. Kerstein is an author and psychotherapist. She is a Jersey girl at heart who currently lives in Colorado with her husband, their two dragons...er, daughters, and their rescue dogs. Lauren is the author of the Rosie the dragon and Charlie picture book series (Illustrated by Nate Wragg/Two Lions). Her latest picture book, HOME FOR A WHILE (Illustrated by Natalia Moore/Magination Press) moved into bookshelves on February 2, 2021. Lauren also writes books in her field. Lauren’s books include themes of courage, flexible thinking, friendship, social emotional learning, foster care, seeing your strengths, sensory issues, and emotion regulation. Lauren is represented by Deborah Warren with East/West Literary Agency.

Lauren is one of the founders of #ReVISIONweek, a judge with Rate Your Story, runs a critique business, and is a long-time member of 12x12 and SCBWI. Lauren’s writing goals are simple. Read voraciously. Embrace feedback. Grow each day. Work hard. Be passionate. Write courageously. Touch children’s hearts. You can visit her at www.LaurenKerstein.net, on Twitter and Instagram at @LaurenKerstein, and on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/laurenkersteinauthor.

Lauren is offering a non-rhyming picture book critique for a manuscript under 1000 words.