Today we are excited to have special guest Emily Neuburger, author of the book Show Me a Story: 40 Craft Projects and Activities to Spark Children’s Storytelling. Emily is joining us to talk about her kids craft book as well as the writing process for her book. At the end of this post, you can also enter to win a copy of her book!
Welcome to Craft Book Month, Emily! Can you tell me what you love about telling stories, and why it’s important?
I love making crafts that facilitate storytelling because it offers children (and adults) the chance to drift into imaginary worlds where anything is possible. I have always been a daydreamer – where twigs and dirt often became mountains and trees – and I am a firm believer in nurturing children’s natural inclination to spend time with their imaginations. Storytelling is so healthy and good for children – it helps them practice communicating, it expands their emotional awareness, and it is often a way for them to experiment with problem solving. And, um, it is also super fun!
This is a very unique book concept. How did you go about conveying your concept to a publisher and what did you learn?
I actually submitted a book proposal where storytelling crafts was only one of the chapters in the proposed book. The editor who I was working with suggested that I elaborate on just the storytelling chapter since it was so unique and vibrant. The process of uncovering the heart and soul of my book served as a reminder to be willing to experiment with shifting the focus of a project.
When it came time to write the book, what did your timeline look like, and how did you interact with the publisher?
The process was definitely lengthy with lots of different, distinct steps along the way. After signing on with Storey Publishing, I was given six months to write my manuscript. I checked in with my editor from time to time, but I mostly just curled up in my cozy chair and wrote. Once the manuscript was turned in, I shifted my focus to craft styling – and more craft styling and more craft styling. Then, there was the photo shoot, copy edits, proof edits, more proof edits, and then four months to wait before I saw my first printed and bound copy. The time frame from the time I wrote my proposal to the release date was approximately 3 years. I found the whole process rewarding and interesting.
And, now, I am excitedly preparing for my book tour! Hooray! In the coming months, I’ll be visiting book shops, craft spaces, and museums to share projects from the book. I’m really looking forward to connecting with children and adults as they create; it will be fun and beautiful, and I can’t wait.
How would you compare the process of blogging about crafts on your blog Red Bird Crafts and actually compiling a book?
Honestly, writing blog posts and book chapters feels extremely satisfying and exciting for me! In the end, the two writing processes felt very similar because I approach my writing as an educator and an artist. I love to inspire people to be creative and to encourage them to have confidence in their art; both forms of writing offer me the chance to do just that.
Thanks for your insights into the book writing process! What’s next for you, Emily?
Thanks for asking! I have lots of exciting new projects and ideas coming together right now. I’ll still be blogging at Red Bird Crafts, but in a few weeks I’ll also have a new website at EmilyNeuburger.com. The new site will showcase more of what I offer as a teacher – library and school visits, curriculum guides, and my local classes. I’m very excited for launch day!
Giveaway!
Storey Publishing is giving one lucky Craft Buds reader a copy of Emily’s new book, Show Me a Story. To enter the giveaway, just leave a comment on this post telling us something you learned from our Q&A with Emily. One random winner will be chosen in a week. Entries limited to North America.
Have you been hopping with us this week?
Sunday 9/9: Sweet Diesel Designs / missknitta’s studio
Monday 9/10: Sew Tara / Clover and Violet
Tuesday 9/11: Sew Fantastic / amylouwho
Show us your craft book project from Sept 23-30 and win prizes!
72 comments
I loved that she said writing a book and writing a blog are so similar! I never would have thought of breaking a book down into chapters compared to writing a blog! 🙂 I’d LOVE to win this book—as a former teacher, a new mommy, and a crafter, this would be so awesome!
I learned about a great crafter and blog that I must add to my list.
I found a new blog to read -and a book I need to look for.
You have helped me make up my mind to have classes for kids sewing and designing next summer. I want to say low income children but all children deserve an exciting experience. Thank you and keep up the great work.
I love that it was meant to be one chapter and became the whole book.
Emily is a daydreamer. I feel that leads to her creativity.
It was interesting to learn about the whole process of turning her idea into a book.
I learned about a new blog I can’t wait to check out!
I learned that she’s going to have a new blog soon that is teacher/school oriented. Can’t wait!
I learned that someone just wrote a book about the very thing that’s been on my mind lately! I can’t wait to see it!
I am really excited about this book! Amazing that it was originally just going to be a chapter!
I love the idea behind this book. I leatned that Emily is a firm believer in nurturing children’s natural inclination to spend time with their imaginations. As a retired elementary teacher I SO agree with this.
She’s gonna have a new blog! That is good news.
hi! Congrats on such a cool book! I appreciated Emily’s reasons for sharing crafts and stories at the same time with children.
As a trained teacher, I learned, like Emily, that storytime is a great way to introduce topics in the classroom, give children a chance to explore new concepts, and then for them to internalize the concept, it’s important for them to interact with the new ideas in a concrete way–no matter what their ages. Now as a mother of preschoolers, I find it’s even more true than I thought–they absorb so much! I’m always looking for new ideas to interact with my little ones, to nurture their love of reading–this would be a great resource.
I personally love that she says writing a blog and writing a book are very similar. I’ve always felt the same way.
A new blog to explore soon. Thanks!
Since writing a book of my own someday is a goal of mine I really enjoyed finding out about the process of it all. Looks like an amazing book – and with three little girls – perfect for my family!
I like how the publisher worked with her to elaborate on her story telling. Hope you have fun on the tour.
I think that the idea behind the book is awesome!!
I cant conceive the idea of even writing the book, I am filled with to many opinions, but I understood what she expressed about “shifting the idea,” project.. I would get on a subject and make it 40 chapters.. LOL
it was interesting to hear that writing a blog and a book were so closely related. can’t wait to get a copy, thanks!
would love to win this for my great grands
What a wonderful book! I really enjoyed reading about Emily and her process. Since I have 4 grandchildren who enjoy both reading and crafting, I would love to add this to my library. The projects look great. Thanks for a chance to win.
Wow – three years to get the book completed? I guess I wouldn’t have realized it took that long
O man! This’d be an awesome book to have–it’d fit in great with homeschooling!!!!
I SO need this book! I have a licensed home daycare, and I also homeschool. We are all about hands on projects and making stories come to life. I was glad to learn that she will be doing library and school visits. I’ll have to recommend her to our local library! They would love this 🙂
I learned that storytelling is a great way to teach children how to learn about problem solving. I never thought about it that way and can’t wait to get this book! Even if I don’t win I’m going to purchase it because I think it is an amazing way I can share my love for crafting with my son.
I learnt about integrating craft and teaching for kids
This book would be great for my daughter- in-law to use as she does soooo many crafts with her little girls. The projects look so wonderful!
I thought it was quite interesting that a proposed chapter became the focus of the finished book. This sounds wonderful.
I didn’t realise a book is such a long process. I’ve also never thought of adding details to stamped images, seems obvious now. School holidays are coming up and I hope to make a book with my boys using their imagination and images. I can only imagine how inspiring reading the actual, “Show me a story”, book would be.
Storytelling has always been such an important part in my grandchildrens lives, it is nice to see how it fits into crafting as well – thanks!! Looking forward to the book!!
How interesting that one chapter became an entire book! Would love this for my 19-month old 😉
I was very surprised by all of the direct ways Emily touched on how developmentally beneficial reading with children can be.
I learned I would never have the patience to write a book! It looks lovely.
I learned that Emily is interested in bringing the idea of sparking storytelling and imagination through crafts into schools and libraries, which I think is awesome!
teaching materials and inspiration can be found everywhere!
can’t wait to see what you will have on your blog for teachers.
I learned patience is a must! 3 years start to publish. YAY! for perseverance.
Congratulations to your publishers for picking out the story craft chapter – my favourite kind if crafts!
SORRY. You can delete my entry, I’m NOT in N America!
This book looks really cool! The process of being published was very interesting!
Publishing a book never goes in the direction you think it will. Would love to have this book to help my son with his story telling. As, he gets lost when trying to tell me a story. Love all the ideas that she has worked so hard to include. What a fun way to teach kids.
Have a couple of little grandkids that this book would be just perfect for.
Everyone has a story inside of them! Young or not!
I struggle with confidence in my own crafting so I’m a fan of anything that inspires people and encourages them (“I love that love to inspire people to be creative and to encourage them to have confidence in their art.”)
I love the idea of story telling as a way to practice problem solving. I had always thought of story telling as creative exploration but of course this is so simple and so right it gives another framework. We do a lot of group storytelling in our summer school classes and the kids love it.
It is so very important to foster creativity in children and what better way than encouraging it thru reading and story telling. Great book!
I have always been intimidated by the whole book-writing process. Reading about Emily’s journey makes it seem possible and doable.I love the “cozy chair” chapter writing! Would love to win this book–would make a GREAT birthday present for me today!!
Thanks for sharing the book and Emily.
I love this I will have to buy if I don’t win— firm believer in nurturing children’s natural inclination to spend time with their imaginations
Oh just discovering this fabulous Trevor!!! I don’t know much what to say besides its just an fantastic ideas not just for kids but me too!!!
I’m forever looking for ways to make the whole learning experience for my kids fun. Furthermore I find it very important to develop my childrens’ imaginations as in today’s world imagination always seems to take a back-seat to television and computer games. Seeing just the front-page of this book has given me new inspiration for teaching my children the joy of story-telling.
It was good to read that children need to use their imaginations and pretend many of their stories – my grandchildren have electronic games but I would love to introduce some fun storytelling/imagination games to them too.
Having young children this book would be an awesome addition to our library. I look forward to Emily’s new website and to reap benefits from her experience as a teacher to use in my own home with the kids.
I learned about a new blog that I’m rushing off to check out and I added another book to my ‘must have’ list. I can’t wait to get a copy of this book. The possibilities are endless.
Im a nanny and preschool teacher, and I love doing crafts with my muchkins! Im so excited to have found a new blog to check out! I would LOVE LOVE LOVE to win a copy of this book! Thanks for the giveaway!
I am going to check out her blog. I love the idea of artistic elements sparking a story telling imagination. What a great book.
My sister is a teacher and this would be a gift to her.
I do a lot of book making with my pre k kids and I loved the idea regarding storytelling and problem solving! looks like a fantastic book!!
This would be great to use well babysitting and when my cousins are visiting.
LOVE the idea of this book and LOVE that the editor picked up on the unique idea of it enough for it to become it’s own book. My children all enjoy telling their own stories and I know we would have a great time trying out some new ways to do so. Thanks for the chance! (and for the great book!)
Sounds like a great book! I love that this was just supposed to be one chapter but ending up becoming an entire book. Thanks for the giveaway!
What a great way to get kids inspired. I loved the idea that book writing and blog writing are similar. I also appreciated learning how long it took her for the process. Good things can take time!
This book looks so great! I work in an art museum teaching classes for children and would love to use some of these ideas. I found the interview interesting to learn that blog-writing and writing a book felt very similar to her. I guess I always think of writing for a blog as a bit more casual, but I like the idea of having a friendly, inviting tone to a book as well.
wow! The photo shoot is a lot more complicated that what I thought, thanks for the opportunity to win this awesome book 🙂
I’ve learned I really want this book! ;O)
I would have thought the craft ideas came first and the book later, but found the book writing process interesting! I’d love to win this book and engage my speech/language impaired students with their imaginations to work on their writing/language skills!
I learned that writing a book takes a really long time and lots of dedication! Can’t wait to get a copy of this one!
I learned that the process of getting a book published is long–much longer than I would have thought.
I learned about–and was inspired by–Emily’s process of uncovering the “heart and soul” of her book. I run summer camps and will be exploring how to encourage campers’ storytelling experiences with this new tool!
I learned that the book process can be a long one!
Comments are closed.