Interview with children’s author Michelle Porter

Children’s picture book writer Michelle Porter is here today and we’re chatting about her new book for children 2-6, Wesley Raccoon: Captain John’s Social.

During her virtual book tour, Michelle will be awarding a $15 Amazon or Barnes and Noble (winner’s choice) gift card to a lucky randomly drawn winner. To be entered for a chance to win, use the form below. To increase your chances of winning, feel free to visit her other tour stops and enter there, too!

Bio:
As a mother to four grown boys, Michelle is passionate about writing captivating children’s stories on the importance of social acceptance, kindness, and life lessons. Her books focus on friendship, love, and self-awareness blossoming in a world that children understand.

Her warm-hearted approach to writing and whimsical use of watercolor illustrations connect with young creative minds, inspiring children of all ages. The message she conveys is simple yet powerful: “When we release our fear of the unknown and our preconceived notions, we free our hearts to find true friends, to love, and to grow.”

When Michelle is not writing, you can often find her painting in her Toronto art studio or spending time at her east coast cottage in Nova Scotia, where she pulls a great deal of her inspiration from walking the island trails lined with sweet grass, and combing the beaches for quartz.

What do you enjoy most about writing short stories?
I love the creative process – a flow of inspirational ideas – a jumping off point that floods the senses. This particular children’s series came to life during a family visit to Amsterdam back in December of 2018. Ideas for the book were floating around in my mind for weeks prior to our trip. Everything came together by spending time walking the through the cobblestone streets and city neighborhoods, experiencing the culture, dodging the cyclists that are in abundance and boating up the old canals. The experience made a huge impact on my decision to base the books in Amsterdam. It’s all part of the inspiration process that I hold so dear to my heart.

Can you give us a little insight into a few of your short stories – perhaps some of your favorites?
This particular children’s series is about friendship. Finding it, growing it, and realizing that we are all connected in this big beautiful universe. It’s encouraging to see young readers identify with Wesley Raccoon, and to hear kids tell their own stories about how they too made new friends. My favourite experiences are usually facilitating live readings at elementary schools. The interaction is priceless!

What genre are you inspired to write in the most? Why?
Children’s picture books and books for early readers are my favorite – children inspire ideas and embrace most situations with an open mind and a mountain of possibilities.

Excerpt from Wesley Raccoon: Captain John’s Social:
Wesley loves to spend time with his friends at Captain John’s Social.

Tonight, he introduces his best friend to the Wise Owl of Nine Streets; Riley Fox, who lives in Dam Square; Leia and Dexter, the alley cat twins; and, of course, LisaLou, the Hare of Vondelpark, who they sang songs with earlier that afternoon.

The Captain tells stories and listens carefully to his friends as they share their week’s adventures.

“How wonderful it is to have friendship of all kinds in our life,” says Wesley to the Captain. Wesley and his friends are thankful for knowing so many different people and spending time with them every week at Captain John’s Social.

As Wesley thinks about his friends and their wonderful times together, he knows that each person is truly unique, and in their own special way, brings kindness to Wesley’s circle of friends.

What exciting story are you working on next?
The final book in the series is currently underway, and due to be published later this year. This will be the third and final book of the children’s friendship series, titled Wesley Raccoon: Tulips in the Water. I’m currently at the exciting stage of finalizing the manuscript and working with my amazing young illustrator, Olivia Mokrzycki, to bring everything to life.

When did you first consider yourself a writer?
Oh… that’s a hard one, I think the writing bug first bit me around the age of 12 or 13, it’s hard to say. My first passion in school was poetry and creative writing. As time passed, I soon learned to adapt my writing skills to a business environment. Now, as a new grandmother, my 3 year old grandson has rekindled my love for writing children’s stories and has inadvertently inspired me to pick up the pen once again.

How do you research markets for your work, perhaps as some advice for writers?
Find a place that inspires you and write about it. There is no better teacher than culture immersion.

What would you say is your interesting writing quirk?
For me, I would have to say that my greatest gift is also my strangest quirk. When inspiration hits, it opens a flood gate of ideas and often I find myself fully immersed in the conceptualization of a story or multiple short stories in a series, writing for hours on end until I finally feel I have released all my creative juices onto paper. In fact, I often end up with writer’s cramp in my hand after hours of full on journaling during the concept stage. And yes, I do love to physically write with pen and paper more than type on a keyboard during this process – it somehow connects me to my thoughts in a very creative way.

As a child, what did you want to be when you grew up?
As a child I always envisioned my life as an artist, there was never any doubt in my mind. I just wasn’t sure what type of art. Now as an adult, my art consists of writing, painting, drawing and a variety of craft work.

Anything additional you want to share with the readers?
As a parent and a new grandparent, I feel it is important to share stories of kindness and courage with children. They are faced with a plethora of information out there on the web at such a young age, so it’s important to cultivate in them that it is not ‘what you do’ but ‘how you do it’ that counts in life. So do it with kindness!

Links:
Facebook | Goodreads | Amazon US | Amazon CA | Kindle | Bookshop | Barnes and Noble | Book Depository

Thanks for being here today! Happy book touring!

a Rafflecopter giveaway