What, Why, How: Suzanne Jacobs Lipshaw

What:

I am a children’s book author whose books are inspired by my two sons, nature, and my 23 years as an elementary special education teacher. My publishing credentials include I Campaigned for Ice Cream: A Boy’s Quest for Ice Cream Trucks (Warren Publishing, April 2019) inspired by the true story of my son Josh who at nine-years-old wondered why ice cream trucks never came down our street. After a nudge from his mother to call the township board, he discovered they were illegal due to an antiquated peddler’s law. Feeling this was unfair to the kids of his city, Josh set out to change the law.

My newest book Mighty Mahi (Doodle and Peck Publishing, March 2022) was inspired by my Yearlong Themed Project-Based Learning, a teaching approach I created to provide my developing readers access to curriculum and their individual reading goals in an authentic, motivating, and engaging manner. (More about Mighty Mahi’s specific inspiration in the “why” section below…) Currently, I have four informational fiction and nonfiction picture book manuscripts out for query, three of which were inspired by one of my yearlong science themes. Additionally, I am revising my first middle-grade fiction novel inspired by an experience my younger son Jeremy had rock climbing and my fascination with the moon.

Why:

Why write Mighty Mahi? During the 2014-15 school year, my elementary reading students boarded an imaginary yellow submarine from Northville, Michigan to Jekyll Island, Georgia for a virtual field trip to the Georgia Sea Turtle Center. There, they were introduced to Mahi, a juvenile green sea turtle who was missing her right front flipper. Students learned they could symbolically adopt Mahi for $50 to help pay for her care. Enthusiastic about this idea, they formulated a plan. First, they researched the dangers sea turtles faced and put on a virtual assembly to inform our school community about these threats. My students then brainstormed fundraising ideas and decided on selling reusable, collapsible water bottles raising over $1,700!

With this money they were not only able to adopt Mahi and follow her journey—researching her rescue and receiving monthly updates on her rehabilitation—they also contributed to the care of the other turtles at the center. That summer, Mahi was released back into the Florida ocean where she was found. Coincidentally, one of my students and his family were vacationing in Florida at the time. I contacted them and they made the two-hour drive to see Mahi’s release. My student reported his experience to us when school began the following year! Mahi’s tenacity was inspiring, and I knew then her story needed to be shared beyond our school community. I hope readers will be inspired by Mahi’s strength and persistence and realize that with hard work, effort, and support from others, they too can overcome challenges.

How:

Six years ago, I decided that if I didn’t make a concerted effort to carve out time to write I was never going to accomplish my dream of becoming a children’s book author. So New Year’s Eve 2016, I made a resolution to make writing a priority and it was the first resolution I’ve ever kept! I picked up a manuscript I started years back—a fiction middle-grade version of what eventually became my first published picture book I Campaigned for Ice Cream—and continued with it. I also resolved to take classes to further my craft. One of the first courses I enrolled in was a nonfiction picture book class. The idea of writing nonfiction strongly resonated with me because I taught developing readers by immersing them in a different science theme each year and I saw nonfiction as a natural progression from my method of teaching to my writing. The course inspired me to try the ice cream truck story in a nonfiction picture book format and it worked. And from there I was hooked!

I wrote Mighty Mahi in 2018. Two years later, I queried the manuscript to publishers. Amongst a sea of rejections, I received a rewrite and resubmit request from Doodle and Peck Publishing. The editor, Marla Jones, suggested I change the story from the current third person point of view to Mahi’s point of view and if she liked the rewrite, she would offer me a contract. Thankfully the rewrite went well, and Mighty Mahi was born!

Bio:

Suzanne Jacobs Lipshaw is a children’s book author and former elementary special education teacher who is passionate about growing young minds. Suzanne enjoys speaking at schools about writing, leadership, and how kids can make a difference in our world. The proud momma of two grown boys, Suzanne lives in Waterford, MI with her husband and furry writing companion Ziggy. When she’s not dreaming up new writing projects, you can find her kayaking on the lake, hiking the trail, practicing at the yoga studio, or comparing paint swatches at the local Sherwin Williams.

Links:

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Linda K. Sienkiewicz is a writer, poet, and artist.
Learn more about her multi-award winning novel, In the Context of Love.
Learn more about her picture book, Gordy and the Ghost Crab.
Learn more about her poetry chapbook, Security

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