Tuesday, February 24, 2015

Olive and the Great Flood

Today I have a great interview for you all. Connie Arnold has a new picture book out. It’s called Olive and the Great Flood and I jumped at the chance to join her blog tour. First, I want to say the illustrations done by Kathleen Bullock are beautiful. The story of Olive (the dove Noah sent to find dry ground) published by Guardian Angel Publishing is a charming rhymer with gorgeous art that pops. Check out that gorgeous cover. 

Olive doesn’t say a word (of course), but she is a well thought out character. I loved reading this delightful Bible story again and again and you will too. Olive keeps the other animals on the ark calm by lulling them to sleep with soft, peaceful songs.
It’s a joyful, rhythmic, fun picture book that children will want to read over and over again. Olive and the Great Flood is sure to become a classic.
So please welcome Connie.

Connie, Olive and the Great Flood is so fun to read. Where did you get the idea to write it?
The thought just sort of popped into my head when I was thinking about Noah, the ark and the flood, about what an important part the dove had in the story. Along with that was the thought of pictures of a dove with the olive branch or leaf in its mouth depicting peace, and Olive came to life as a peaceful bird who wanted to help the other animals.

You had to be excited to find out that Kathleen was going to be the illustrator. Did you all talk about the art? Did she ask for your opinions?
I had only seen book covers and a few illustrations that Kathleen had done and am thrilled at how her illustrations for Olive and the Great Flood turned out! As with my two previous books, I provided the text, the publisher provided the illustrator, who did the art. I never saw any until all was finished. A most pleasant surprise!

Do you have plans for future stories taken from the Bible?
There is nothing specific I have planned at this time. I would love to write something else but need to get the inspiration first. I do have another book coming from Guardian Angel Publishing, but it is not a Bible story and will be my first without rhymes.

Can you tell us about your experience writing this particular picture book? How long did t take you to finish it? Did the words just spill out onto the page? *wink*
Good one, Robyn! It really didn’t take long to write the first draft. Then I kept reading it, putting it aside for a while, reading again, making changes, then submitted to critique group, who made several suggestions. Writing a children’s book is always challenging, but when you are doing it in rhyme with rhythms that must be perfect, that steps up the challenge considerably!

You make writing picture books look so easy with your wonderful stories. You know that I know it just ain’t easy. Ha. But please, some words of wisdom for the writers who are reading this.
There are a few things I think are important to keep in mind: get your thoughts down when you have the inspiration and don’t wait; once it is written you can go back and do the proofreading and corrections; have someone else read it and give you their opinion; put it aside for a while and come back to it fresh; and read it aloud to yourself or someone else.

Best and worst part of being a writer?
Best is the positive feedback when you discover that someone loves what you wrote, and worst is having a great story going and getting stuck and unable to finish it satisfactorily.

Connie, thank you so much for stopping by and sharing your story with us.
It has been my pleasure, Robyn! Thank you for being a valuable part of my tour for Olive and the Great Flood. I will check in for comments and to answer any questions that someone might have.
You heard that, y'all. Ask away. Don't forget, you'll be entered into the giveaways.
Thanks for reading!

Links for book:



Connie’s blog for tour schedule and prizes - http://childrensauthorconniearnold.blogspot.com

Those who comment will be entered to drawings for two prizes, a copy of my first children’s book, Animal Sound Mix-up, and a gold dove windchime.
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40 comments:

  1. I admire Connie even more because she did a rhyming picture book. So hard to get right. Congrats on your new book. I'll let someone else with young kids win this.

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  2. Robyn, thank you so much for sharing the interview and helping spread the word about Olive and the Great Flood! You asked some good questions, and I look forward to any more questions or comments from others.

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  3. Thank you, Natalie. It is so true that it is a lot of work to get rhyming and rhythm just right. Actually, there is also a drawing for a dove wind chime I can enter you to and not the one for my Animal Sound Mix-up book.

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  4. I love it. How cool! Congrats to Connie.

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  5. Sounds like a delightful story. Rhyming for God - that's cool.

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  6. Alex, I had not thought about it that way, but I guess that is cool! Thanks!

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  7. I enjoyed the interview, Robyn. Congratulations, Connie. Can't wait to read your book! I love the idea of Noah's ark from a dove's POV.

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  8. This is way better for kids than that movie Noah lol. It's beautiful and I know how hard rhyme is. Congratulations Connie!

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  9. Thank you, Romelle! Hope you enjoy it!

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  10. Catherine, I actually haven't seen the movie Noah. Guess I need to do that!

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  11. Great interview, Robyn. Congratulations, Connie. Your book sounds delightful! The cover is lovely.

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  12. You have a natural talent for doing terrific interview, Robyn! Congratulations to Connie on her book birth!

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  13. Thank you, Freeda, I'm glad you like it!

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  14. Teresa, I agree that Robyn does terrific interviews!

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  15. Great interview, ladies! I like the cover. Wishing Connie all the best! )

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  16. Awesome! I need to get back into picture books. As of next month I'm going to have a new little listener for them. Crazy!

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  17. I LOVE anything to do with rhyme... and the book looks great!
    Good luck, Connie!
    Hi Robyn! *waving*

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  18. Crystal, congratulations on your expected little listener! I love hearing about more children to enjoy Olive and the Great Flood and other picture books!

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  19. I'm with you in loving rhyme, Michelle. Thanks for the good wishes!

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  20. So excited for Connie! I loved hearing more about where she got her inspiration and what she has coming out next. I can imagine it takes a long time to get the rhymes just right. I love to rhyme, but I know it take a lot of time to get things just perfect. Best of luck to Connie!
    ~Jess

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  21. Thank you for sharing my excitement, Jess! Rhyming is fun but definitely takes effort. I appreciate your good wishes!

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  23. Love that Olive sings to calm the animals on the ark. The cover looks excellent. Congratulations on the picture book release, Connie!

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  24. what a great book...the cover is amazing. And yes, I can imagine how challenging it would be to write a children's book. I have friends who think it's "easy money" and I can't explain how badly I want to scream over that! congrats to Connie! :)

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  25. Claudine, since I am a musician, singing was a must! Thank you for your kind comment!

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  26. Thank you, Beth. You certainly understand what it is like!

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  27. This sounds really cool! :D I really like the cover! :D

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  28. Just wish to say your article is as astonishing.

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  29. Lovely to read. I am away for long and I couldn't read your blog frequently. Hoping that I can keep in touch~

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  30. What a gorgeous cover, and I LOVE the concept of this story. Congrats to Connie!

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  31. Thanks everyone for your comments and good wishes!

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  32. Great interview, Robyn and Connie. In a way, the dove is the hero of the Noah's Ark story.

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  33. Great interview, Robyn and Connie. In a way, the dove is the hero of the Noah's Ark story.

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  34. This sounds wonderful, a wonderful observation on the Ark story, and deals with the more traumatic parts of the story well, for instance I like the fact that Olive sings to the animals to calm them, just like you do with children!

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  35. Having read your article. I appreciate you are taking the time and the effort for putting this useful information together.

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