Write2Ignite

Hello Write2Ignite Readers!

My name is Debbie Arnn and I’m the Financial Administrator for Write2Ignite. I’m super excited to bring to you an author interview with Write2Ignite’s own website guru, Cindy Lynn Sawyer! Cindy’s debut picture book, The Wonder of Under illustrated by Andee Huxhold, came out yesterday on Amazon! Before we get to the interview, here’s a little bit about The Wonder of Under.

When the world around him seems dull, Paxton begins a search for adventure. Vivid illustrations transport him into the world of Under, where he hopes to find something — anything â€” exciting. But when he doesn’t seem to find what he’s looking for, Paxton taps into his own imagination. He discovers that the most extraordinary adventures can be created out of the simplest treasures. Perfect for parents and preschoolers alike, The Wonder of Under celebrates the power of a preschooler’s imagination and the endless joy it can bring.

AUTHOR INTERVIEW

DEBBIE: Tell us about your inspiration for The Wonder of Under.

CINDY: When my granddaughter was born, I was blessed to be able to watch her full time. Once she started crawling, she became obsessed with looking under the rug. She’d pick up the corner of it over and over, as if something new would appear. Since everything was at floor level for her, she loved to peek under the couch, sit under the kitchen table, and disappear underneath the bed. 

DEBBIE: How did you find your illustrator?

CINDY: Best story ever: I didn’t. I wrote three picture books, had them professionally critiqued by Annette Whipple, then froze at the illustration stage. Mostly because of cost. I hate spending money on myself. So, on my birthday, Dec. 31, 2023, my family presented me with a gift. They had taken my story and my daughter illustrated it for me. Originally, they had hired an illustrator, but she didn’t work out. In order to meet the deadline – my birthday – my daughter went ahead and illustrated it in Canva. Something I didn’t think would ever work. But I love the artwork and have had people tell me that they think the illustrations are fun, vibrant, and even charming.

They were worried I might be angry that they did this, but I was so touched that I started crying. Being able to open my book in front of the people closest to me who have supported my writing journey for years was a blessing beyond words. My daughter then handed me over the files so I could make changes. I tweaked some of the design, pulled some of it into Photoshop to enhance images, and added the cute frog that everyone seems to love. 

This special gift helped me to realize my value as a writer. I no longer feel like I’m doing it just for myself. My mom, my kids, and my husband gave me that special nudge and confirmation that I am doing what God created me to do. Sometimes we need a bit of a push. 

DEBBIE: What’s your favorite spread in this book and why?

CINDY: The last one where Paxton is actually living his adventure. The colors, the joy, and the message just seem to come alive for me.

DEBBIE: I see themes of curiosity and imagination in The Wonder of Under, but I’m curious. When you started writing this story, did you expect it would take on an environmental theme as well?

CINDY: Not at all. I wrote it for fun and realized by the response I received from others that it has an environmental theme, as well as a STEM element. 

DEBBIE: Do you have any memorable moments with your own children or grandchildren where they found some “trash” and made something imaginative with it? 

CINDY: My grandson who is three loves cars, so we made a car out of a box. Then his little sister needed one, too. But it wore me out pushing the two of them around the living room. 

I have a never-ending supply of crafting scraps that should be tossed. But I keep them around for when we need some fun to do. Want to make an ornament for Christmas? Let’s see what we have. Need to make a card? Want to create your own monster? How about abstract art? Spontaneous crafting with my grandkids is one of my favorite things to do. Let’s take a mess and make it something they can be proud of. 

DEBBIE:  What do you hope readers take away from The Wonder of Under?

CINDY: First and foremost, I hope families can just bond by reading it together and finding the frog in the pages. But hopefully they will come away with the idea that they can use their imaginations to find big adventures in the tiniest of treasures. 

DEBBIE: Can you tell us a little bit about your decision to self-publish?

CINDY: I have worked in marketing for years. I know how to write and do graphic design/page layout. I felt I could spend years marketing to publishers who may or may not have a need or desire to publish my book, then wait another year for it to come out … or I could publish it myself and market it. I knew I could write it. I knew I could format it for publication. The only thing I really had to learn (and am still learning) is how to use all the many platforms where you can self-publish. 

Because of my background in writing, graphics and marketing, I have been encouraged by writers, editors, and even my writing coach to go this route. Self-publishing is much more accepted than it used to be. However, you also have to take care to provide a quality product because, well, everyone and anyone can publish. There are a lot of not-so-great books out there that make self-publishing look bad. But there are also a lot of good ones. In order to be sure that my book was a good fit for the children’s market, I ran it through my critique group (and my family, bless their hearts) several times, paid for a professional critique by author Annette Whipple, and then created a team of beta readers who read the story to the kids in their circles. The feedback was invaluable. I would also suggest hiring a professional editor. I did not hire an editor for this book because the words are few and so many other people had looked through it. But for future books with more content, I will most likely pay for this service.

DEBBIE: Do you have any advice for our readers about the story making or publishing process? 

CINDY: To be a writer, you have to write. I’ve been a writer for more than 20 years, but have never been able to finish a book. I finally had the opportunity last year to work from home and write books. I am over the moon excited that I completed three picture books and I am working with a writing coach on a middle grade novel.  Through this process I developed my own technique for writing picture books. The way my stories flow and the sing-songy way they move the reader through the pages is something that evolved naturally. For my novel, I learned that I am a character-driven writer who writes in scenes instead of in chronological order like I had always tried to do. 

DEBBIE: How can our readers find out more about you and your books?

CINDY: Please visit my website www.designed2glow.com. My focus is to help “Build Brighter Futures Through Reading Adventures.” You’ll find a blog with ideas on how adults can create reading adventures for their kiddos. You can also sign up for my newsletter to get those posts right in your inbox. Here are my social media links:

Facebook: facebook.com/KidLitWriter

Instagram: instagram.com/designed2glow

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/cindylynnsawyer

GIVEAWAY

Cindy is giving away a copy of The Wonder of Down Under! Please leave a comment by Monday, February 26 to enter. U.S. addresses only.

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Debbie’s purpose is to show people (especially young children) their value to God and to help them live up to their fullest potential. She has 30+ years of experience in education, working with children from infants through 5th grade. She is active in the writing community and has written and edited kids curriculum for her church for the last six years. She is the mom of four great kids and currently lives in Texas with her husband and their dog, Barkley. 
FACEBOOK: @debbiearnn
TIKTOK: @debbiemerloarnn
TWITTER: @debbiearnn