Valerie -Welcome to Bookworthy. Today we're talking with Nancy Tupperling about, Bless the Earth, which is a collection of poems for children to celebrate and care for the world, co-edited with bestselling anthologist, June Cotner. Bless the Earth shows the miracle of our planet Earth through beautiful imagery and delightful poetry, calling all people young and old to care for our wonderful world. Welcome to Bookworthy Nancy.
Nancy -Thank you so much. I'm excited to meet you.
Valerie -It is a pleasure. I love how technology allows us to connect with people that we probably would never meet face to face. And so it's unique, but for it is, first we need to tackle the random question of the week. And since fall is all around us, do you prefer apple cider or pumpkin spice lattes?
Nancy -I'm in New England too, so I would say pumpkin spice lattes now. Yeah, it's surprising. I had a switch at some point in life.
Valerie -Really? Yeah, it's interesting. Like, what is that? Several people that I've interviewed before that live up in, kind of the mid, the North, Northeast. Yes, that side. That, since you can have apple trees up there that, you know, apple cider is kind of a big deal because down here in the South, we just, we have to import our apples. There's too much heat.
Nancy -I need to send you some.
Valerie -Please do, because we don't get the good stuff down here. So, but pumpkin spice latte is kind of, the first kickoff of fall around here. When that starts hopping in the stores, then we're like, okay, it's finally fall. At least wait till September, but we don't feel fall until November. So, too fun. Well, Nancy, tell us a little bit about your book. Bless the earth.
Nancy -Yes, they start around July, right? That's true, that's true. Thank you so much. So this is my fourth book with June Cotner who is my mentor actually and then at one point she asked if I wanted to write books with her so that was amazing. So this is the fourth one and it is really a collection of poems from living poets and deceased poets. So I like that it has a majority of them are from people who are contributors who are alive and well and you know, bring a fresh voice to the book. And it's really for children and families to appreciate the wonders of this earth that we're living on.
Valerie -It is a very beautiful collection, and I love how there are so many different types of poetry. And then the illustrations are just amazing that I know my kids could sit there and just stare at the illustrations, you know, as I'm reading the poems. Cause you know, poetry kind of comes in and out of fashion and it's really neat to see that it's coming back in style. What do you think drives poetry to be something that comes in and out of seasons?
Nancy -That's a good question. I just think, you know, we've had some younger poets too. I think having teachers feel more comfortable teaching it, or parents in the classroom and reading it is helpful too. I think a lot of times people were more afraid of how to teach poetry or just have that week of poetry in April. And, you know, I think people are becoming more comfortable with it. It's fun that there are fun poems too. It's not all serious and dark, there's light, you know, joyful poems too. So I think you can find, you know, it's not all one thing. You can find the kind of poetry that you like to read, so that's good.
Valerie -It has been neat to see how there are more, I guess, poets now it's becoming a thing in a sense, you know, or, you know, like I said, back in style, because, you know, there are modern-day poets and it's, while a lot of children's books, you know, there's a lot of poetry in children's books, but I love that your book is focused on all kinds of different types of poetry, all pointing to the glory of creation and the glory of our world. What inspired you to make this kind of the focal point of the book?
Nancy -Yeah, I think it's a very interesting start to how we began the proposal for this because June Cotner had done an adult book sort of in a similar vein. It was called Earth Blessings. And so she just really wanted, I had more of the children's writing background. So combined, we were like, we need to write something for kids to help with their appreciation as well. And
then we started thinking about how we would divide the chapters. And I think that helped define the book too. You know, one of them is like dreaming dreams for your world and how you would care for the world and also animals big and small, which is always fun. You always need some animals in there. So I think once we kind of fleshed that out, the chapters, you know, it kind of took a direction for where the book was going to go.
Valerie -Very neat. How does, I guess, how does God speak to you through nature?
Nancy -Definitely through, you know, walking through nature, I just, I'm sure with you too, I just, things come to you and you're walking and you're praising at the same time for the wonders big and small that you see. And I think as a poet, you're certain, or a writer, you know, you're just, you're noticing things that maybe other people might have, might just walk by. Like, look at that Queen Anne's lace. That's amazing how that was created and made and all the intricacies. And so I don't know if I just answered your question, but that's definitely how I feel like, you know, it's kind of the word is powerful, obviously, in the Bible and the word is powerful today for us. And when I'm out in nature, I just feel that connection to God.
Valerie -Yeah, it's what is it Romans 1: 20 talking about how all creation, you know, you know, declares who God is. And I think, you know, taking the time to appreciate nature and, you know, even just getting in the garden every once in a while, and you just find all the bizarre little creatures that you're like, God even cares about you little thing. That's really just bizarre.
Nancy -Yes. I know my oldest is fearful of slugs and like, I guess those are important too.
Valerie -They have a purpose or what is it you mentioned, Queen Anne's Lace. And we have a lot of that around us. And so it's kind of fun to kids to be like, wow, those are so pretty. It's like, yep, it's a weed though. And they're like, but it's so pretty. I'm like, I know. A weed is just a plant that hasn't found its place yet. And so it's just, it's really cute just to have kids think a little bit differently.
Nancy-Aww, I like that! Yeah, that's a good way to say it. I love that.
Valerie -Yeah, it's fun because I mean, there are some really beautiful weeds, just not in my grass. There we go. There we go. Well, what do you hope to communicate to kiddos in this book, Nancy?
Nancy - Yeah, exactly. We need a book about weeds. I think the subtitle helps a lot with that. And I have to look because it's long. But it is a collection of poetry for children in celebration and care for our world. And that aspect of stewardship really for me when compiling this was important that sometimes we forget that we're not just here to drive around to our job and
the next appointment and to really. Take time to, like you said, to see the wonder and to think about different ways, whether it's through gardening walks in nature, or caring for something in your town. I think that's all important and hopefully, in some ways I feel like poems are like power-packed pieces of literature, you know, and so maybe it brings to mind an emotion about caring. that some other essay or something might not quite do. So.
Valerie -Poetry does have the power to communicate a very big truth or a big emotion in a small moment. And for kids, kind of fast and furious is the way they move. So sometimes to connect and get them to understand a concept, poetry is an easier way to communicate with kids because it is so rich that you could read through it and say, this is sweet and this is really cute. And then you could sit with it longer and be like, this really is something to really ruminate on and to, you know, soak into your soul. I think that's what I love about poetry.
Nancy -Yeah, you said it so well! I love it! I need to take notes!
Valerie - Me too, because I'm like, I'm just talking. But Nancy, do you have any other resources or anything that goes along with this compilation?
Nancy -Yes, something I think you can access through my website too, but Penguin Random House is the big owner of Convergent, who is the publisher, and they put together some fun poetry exercises. And I don't know, this is sort of a big term, but I love acrostic poetry. So they took some of the pictures and the illustrations from the book and said, you know, what would you write about this scene? So I think that's a good exercise. And also just think about certain words that come to mind when you look at different colors, which is fun because I know you like your colors. So yeah, those are some resources that are out there through the publisher too.
Valerie -Very neat. And I do love how you have so many different types of poetry. Like you said, acrostic poems and you have some longer poems and shorter poems. It is a great resource to study different types of poetry. And I think, what is it? I was not expecting that when I pulled it up. Cause usually you grab a poetry book that is kind of a poet's favorite type of poem throughout. And so it was neat to see all the different types. And, you know, allowing my heart to just kind of be like, okay. I could sit here a little bit longer or I could sit here short. And it's really fun. Yes. How did you find all the people and poets that you had participated in this book?
Nancy -Mm-hmm, right. That's true. When you're busy, find the short poem. So June has done, and my co-editor has done about 40 anthologies. So she has a good list of contributors that we send out a call to. But also I should say here, if anyone wants to be added to that list,
definitely let us know because we do send out a call when the the proposal has been accepted. So we have a certain amount that we collect for the proposal, maybe say 25 of them. And then we send out the call and ask for more contributors or anyone to submit. And of course, we have, like you said, some of the key poets that are more famous as well, like Emily Dickinson we have, or Christina Rosetti. So we have some of those tried and true as well as the backbone. But I do love that, you know, it's just fun to see the fresh ideas and poems that are coming in that have never even been written before. I mean, some people just write because they see the topic. bless the earth. That sounds interesting. Maybe I'll whip up a poem. So it's kind of really the cool part about the editing job is to see what comes in.
Valerie -I bet that's both, you know, challenging and exciting too, you know, both see poetry since it is such a challenging way of communicating because there are so many rules and forms you need to fit in, even though it is a, you know, sense of expression and art also. So is poetry something that's always been easy for you?
Nancy -I have worked hard at it with anything, even with writing for children. Like I've always taken workshops. I've always tried to learn more. It did feel like it was one of my first more natural forms, but ironically, my mom's a poet, and her name's Jean Tupper and she's still alive and well at 86 and writing poems. And I told her when I was an ornery teenager that I was never gonna write poems because it's your thing and I was gonna write short stories and novels then I went away to college and the first thing I started to write was poetry.
Valerie -Because God has a funny way of using our servers to direct us.
Nancy -Yeah, yes, exactly. So true, so true. But it's been nice to have her support and she's a great editor too. So that's been a wonderful connection between the two of us. So, I was.
Valerie -Very fun. Now did you always want to be a writer, Nancy?
Nancy -I think I did. I remember when I was in fourth grade saying, when they ask you what you want to do, it was either a veterinarian, which nobody knows how hard that is in fourth grade. Or I did say, author. And it did seem to be like you asked about if it was like a natural, I think it did seem to come more easily to me than some other things like math.
Valerie -That was on my list.
Nancy -But I also like to encourage there are so many good workshops that are available, especially with technology online now. So I belong to several writers' really helpful groups. For example, writing children's books, you have the idea. But to learn that there are 16-page spreads and 32 pages in the book and where you imagine each page will turn, like all those things are things that I had to learn along the way that I had no idea about. So.
Valerie -I know what is it people say that people think not all people, but it is kind of a general thought that children's books are easier than, a full-length novel. But I like to say that, you know, a children's book is really challenging because you have to get an entire novel into 32 pages. And so it's one of those, you know, until you try it, you kind of like, this is so simple. It's like, no.
Nancy -Yeah, and cutting out those words. And I think for me, having the poetry that I started with, really helped to condense the words, and that has helped with the children's writing too.
Valerie -Very neat. Now, what's one of the most impactful books in your life, Nancy, other than the Bible?
Nancy -Yeah, that's a good way to say it.
Valerie-Like we could all say that. That's like, the Bible. There are so many books. That one's always going to be at the top of the list.
Nancy -Yeah, we can all say that.
Nancy -Yes. Are you children or adults or does it not matter? Okay. Well, I'm probably really strange but I have read Moby Dick four times. And I can't get one person in my family to read it once. So that tells you how odd I am. But maybe it's the New England feel. You know I live not too far from New Bedford and the Whaling and...
Valerie - Holy cow!
Nancy -But just, I feel like there's so much that Melville said in that book about God, about rebelling against God, about pride. I just think it's so, it's kind of like Milton. There's so much depth to Moby Dick that I can go back and find more. And then my family's like, please don't.
Valerie -It is a very poetic book, and it is very beautiful, but yes, getting through all of it is, what is it? It's very long.
Nancy -It's very long and everyone skips over all the, you know, the seafaring terminology and I can understand that too. I skip sometimes, but Ahab is such a, you know, I don't know. Yeah, very rich. Like nobody wants... Yeah, exactly. Yeah, exactly. Right. But in terms of children's books, I would say rich character and we can all connect to that character like yeah that guy. Kate DiCamillo, I love her stories and the Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane is one of my favorites because I think there's like a redemptive arc there that I love.
Valerie -She's amazing, I'm always just blown away by her books, just the vast range of topics as well as just the heart behind it all. They're all always so sweet. Now, what can we expect next from you, Nancy?
Nancy -I have one that's coming out, a picture book, that started as a poem. It was a poem in the anthology for Every
Little Thing, and it's called Hearts in My Pocket. And it's about a child trying to handle a divorce situation in her family, and trying to see if the love is still there when she's going between homes now. And I'm kind of surprised, that this came from me, but I'm excited about it too. I think it handles the whole situation quite delicately. So.
Valerie -That is a hard thing to both talk about and for kids to understand. So I love that you're stepping into a space that affects a lot of families and just helping them navigate the emotion and the confusion that comes with divorce. And so that's a, sounds like a really special book. I can't wait. When do you think that one is going to be hitting the shelves or is that unknown?
Nancy -That's slotted. Yeah, it's slotted for December of this year. My husband always says, please emphasize that we're not getting a divorce. We've been married 30 years and I think we're still hanging in there.
Valerie -I guess it is a very important aside, but it's one of those, we have a divorce that's happened recently in our extended family and it is just amazing how it doesn't just affect those involved. It does have a ripple effect through the whole family and it is both sad and.
Nancy -Yeah, don't want rumors.
Valerie -hard and all those things and to help kids understand that love remains is, it's hard to see sometimes in all the ups and downs of divorce, but it is such a sweet message because you know, what is it even in any fallenness, God still loves us and his love remains. And so I love that.
Nancy -That's true. That's true. Thank you.
Valerie -Yeah, I'm looking forward to it. That's like, Ooh, I'm going to have to pick that one up. Well, Nancy, where can people find out more about you and your books?
Nancy -Thank you. Probably the best place to start is just my website, which is my full name, www.nancytupberling.com. You can go from there to everywhere else.
Valerie -Very neat. I definitely will have that in the show notes so that people can find you easily. Well, thank you, Nancy, so much for joining us today.
Nancy -Thank you. It was my pleasure. I love talking with you, Valerie. You made it so easy. Here's to a pumpkin latte.
Valerie - And thank you for joining Nancy and me on this episode of the Bookworthy podcast. Check the show notes for any books or links that we discussed and let us know in the comments if you prefer apple cider or pumpkin spice lattes. Be sure to like and subscribe so we can discover more great books together.
Happy reading.
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