Wildlife

Book Giveaway!!

/ still a dreamer / 7 Comments

I’d love to give you a signed copy of my beautiful picture book, Where Do Butterflies Go at Night, 2nd Edition, so I am sponsoring a giveaway on Instagram from March 25th – April 10th.

To be considered, you’ll need an Instagram account, and then, just follow this link.

Once on my post, you only need to:
* Like my post ❤️
* Follow me @jeannebalsam
* Comment that you’d like to receive the book

You’re now in the mix to win!

The recipient will also receive 2 bookmarks and a butterfly coloring page. Offer only good in U.S. The winner will be announced the weekend of April 12/13. Due to the prohibitive cost of shipping outside this country, I regret that the offer is only good in the U.S.

Should you wish to purchase the book, Where Do Butterflies Go at Night? – 2nd Edition is available on Amazon.

When you have a book …

/ still a dreamer / 8 Comments

There’s a kind of almost-glamour that comes with having a book published. People suddenly look at you differently, with a kind of respect, a bit of awe, maybe amazement (they didn’t know you could actually do that!) It’s kind of funny, really.

As if writing the book were the greatest thing ever. But to me, it seems that who I am – who you are – and all the amazing thoughts and dreams we have, is the real deal. The everyday kindnesses we offer, the work we put into healing ourselves and growing so that we may be better humans on this planet – the untold efforts of just staying steady in the midst of so much going on in the world.

Don’t get me wrong. I was thrilled to finally have my picture book “Butterflies” published. And I am thrilled to have produced it myself in the face of my publisher closing their doors. But what I’ve been thinking about lately is how much work it takes to get a book out into the world, and then … all it takes to get the word out that it even exists. It’s daunting, truly daunting. Especially self-publishing.

If you are already published, you know. If you are working towards being published/self-publishing, be forewarned, it’s not for the weak of heart.

I love this book. I want to know that little ones are hearing and smiling to the rhyme and finding all the magical notes in the illustrations. And I will continue promoting it to make that happen. And I have more stories to tell and bring to the world. I have lots to do and will get there. As will you, so take heart and be brave. We can always hold hands on this journey.

Maybe the “news” today was just exceptionally toxic.

Working with An Illustrator

/ still a dreamer / 6 Comments

Yes, my book has a dog! But it didn’t always have one.

“Where Do Butterflies Go at Night?” – 2nd Edition’s text brought the reader into the rich imagination of the little boy who has fallen asleep dreaming. But during the illustration process, Stella asked if we might have a dog. Hmmm. After a not-terribly-long discussion about it and an inquiry as to what kind of dog, I was good with it, and now we have an adorable Beagle pup guiding the young reader throughout the book.

As an illustrator myself, I have a process when I write a picture book – I start the story, visualize it, continue writing, visualize that, and so on. By the time I’ve finished writing the story, I have completely illustrated it in my mind. So one of the challenges in working with an illustrator is that their images, no matter how gorgeous, often contradict what’s already in your mind!

It takes surrendering your own ideas, and trusting someone else to imagine your story. And what a wonderful job Stella did on that. And the Beagley-boy is such a perfect touch.

“Where Do Butterflies Go at Night?” – 2nd Edition is now available on Amazon.

Coming soon!

/ still a dreamer / 9 Comments

Above is one of the stunning images from my first picture book, Where Do Butterflies Go at Night? Soon to be released is a newly-designed and formatted 2nd Edition (see image above right.)

Why a 2nd Edition? All will be revealed soon when I announce my book’s availability on Amazon. Meanwhile, above is one of the places I imagined butterflies might go at night, beautifully brought to life by illustrator Stella Maris Mongodi.

Stay tuned …

Early Shades of Fall in September

/ still a dreamer / 11 Comments

The sun has not shown its face all day, there is a chill in the air, and I felt a call to go walking. The Delaware River, rippling in the breeze beneath a moody sky, has a flawless beauty in every kind of weather.

The last roses of summer tangle with a shrub with red feathery flowers under a tree slipping into her bronze foliage.

This small ancient barn and its weathered doors still hold some fascination for me. They are such a willing photographic subject.

The tracks heading north out of town and the surrounding greenery were recently treated to a little freshening up for a townwide event. Once upon a time, these tracks were used by trains hauling grain from the town’s mill to destinations both north and south.

I recently saw some advice – “Walk Happy.” I like that advice.