Update - Winner Announced! Celebrate National Elephant Day with Melody C. Peugh!

10//13: Congrats to Amy LaMae Brewer on winning Melody C. Peugh's book giveaway! We'll be in touch soon with more details.

A special thanks to everyone who joined us to celebrate Elephant Appreciation Day!

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Hi, readers, writers, and elephant lovers of all sorts! Today is National Elephant Appreciation Day and we have the perfect treat in store. Author Melody C. Peugh is with us today sharing her debut book with Flashlight Press, Me & Lavender! When Lavender the elephant visits Ella's bedroom to play, Ella tells her that Mommy wants them to keep things tidy for an afternoon tea party. However, that's quite a challenge for a young child. Calm activities quickly turn into thrilling ones, resulting in a spectacular mud-pie mess! Can the playful duo clean up in time for tea? Want to know more about Melody and her new book PLUS want a chance to win a copy? Read on...

Q: Thanks for joining #SeasonsOfKidLit for National Elephant Appreciation Day! We’re thrilled to have you and hear all about your book that’s perfect for the occasion! Please tell us a little bit about how the idea for this book came to you. Which came first, the idea or the title?

A: Thanks so very much for hosting me! I don’t know how long there has been a National Elephant Appreciation Day, but they are very special animals and I’m glad they are getting the attention they deserve. The book came about long before the final choice of title. We adopted our son when he was two months old. He had an issue with his lungs and would stop breathing in his sleep, so for the first year of his life he had to be hooked up to a machine whenever he was sleeping, and anytime I couldn’t get to him quickly - like in the car. He was so tiny in his crib that I had to fill it with friends to keep him company. The original Lavender is a pale purple elephant who played lullabies. I would tell our son little stories I made up about his future adventures with his favorite pal. Eventually the stories began to rhyme, so I started writing it down so he would never forget the fun they had together. The title just seemed to come naturally after I finished the writing.

Q: The rhyme is so fun! What was your process for writing the rhyme? What experience and training do you have in writing rhyme? 

A: It seems as though I’ve been writing in rhyme forever. My mother wrote poetry, and my grandmother recited very long poems to us for many years. She could recite one poem titled Billy’s Rose clear up into her 90’s. It is 21 stanzas long! I was simply fascinated by the rhythm of the stories and the repetition of sounds. I think having a lot of music in our house also helped me to form a strong sense of rhythm and rhyme. My mom was one of twelve children who were mostly talented musicians. I spent wondrous hours sitting in the living room floor with my cousins and siblings, listening to the adults sing and play. I believe rhyme and music Work together to help develop the part of our brain that thinks in rhyme. But “thinks” probably isn’t the appropriate word here. 

As far as a process for writing Me & Lavender in rhyme, I don’t know if there is one. Thoughts seem to come to me in rhyme. Sometimes that’s a good thing, but not always. Writing in rhyme is easy for me, for the most part. Prose, however, is something I have to work very hard with to get my words to express a feeling or to describe a scene.

Q: This book has a wonderful subtle message. How did you choose the message you wanted to tell, or did it evolve naturally? Please explain. 

A: I’m actually not sure how that all came about. I know I wanted something tender, yet fun. I also was hoping that the fun and excitement would gradually heighten and culminate into total chaos. And I definitely wanted something messy. Really messy, since staying tidy was so important to Mommy. But it wasn’t until it was totally finished and I held it in my hands that I realized it was mainly about unconditional love. It may sound strange, but I think Ella knew that before I ever realized it. Lavender is her stuffie, yet she interacts with him as an older child might with a sibling or best friend. 

Q: What’s the most challenging part about being a #kidlit creator?

A: Oh wow! Where do I begin? In my case it’s been a very wild ride. I love coming up with the concept of a character. I can visualize what he/she looks like to start things off. Then I have to find the right voice. Before you think I’m totally weird, know that I realize the voices are confined to my headspace. But they aren’t fully real until they can argue with me and tell me what they’re comfortable with. Or what they might say, like, “Are you nuts? No way am I doing that.” Once I hear their voices I can visualize how they look at the world, and it’s easier to imagine what they would and wouldn’t say or do. That may sound easy to accomplish, but it isn’t for me. I’ve set up scenarios that I thought were good. Or funny. Or necessary for the story, but later my character gets in my head and tells me why it won’t work. So I have to be willing to listen. (And I can’t believe I told all your readers that!

How about the most rewarding part?

The most rewarding part is whenever I get to read for a storytime. The kids make my heart smile. I love to ask them questions after I read the book. They usually start off quiet and reserved and it takes some work on my part to find the right question that will help them find their voice. Soon they are all wanting to talk at the same time. And often they will tell me more than I was expecting. But I always want them to share whatever they think is important for me to know. I just find reading to the kids, and being real with them, is so very important for their growth. 

Q:  What’s one way your MC would celebrate National Elephant Appreciation Day (outside of your book)?

A: Great question! Ella and Lavender would definitely spend a day at our local zoo. This spring and summer four of our female elephants have graced us with a live birth. They are so precious! The youngest was born just a few weeks ago. Ella asked me to share their names...

• Bomani  - strong warrior 

  
  

• Kijani - greenery 

  
  

• Asali - means honey

  
  

• Dakari - means joyful, or one who brings happiness 

After visiting the baby elephants, Lavender would ask Ella if they could make some mud pies to share with the babies. Ella would think it a great idea, and her mind would fill with delightful ideas. But we all know, Mommy would have the final word on the subject.

A Tip: Do not become discouraged. Publication often takes time - sometimes years - to happen. Rejection letters and/or silence are simply two of the many tools an editor uses. It doesn’t necessarily mean you need more preparation, or editing, or cutting scenes, or finding something more original to write about. It might mean the firm you contacted recently published a book with the same theme, or a very similar character. Or her slush pile has reached halfway to the ceiling and she needs time to get through part of it before she can add more. It might mean you need to read more books in your genre. Or she has a toothache and just wants to go home. I think writers are some of the most resilient people I’ve had the pleasure to know. They learn to love what they do, but that doesn’t mean everyone will feel the same. 

I truly hope something I typed here can be useful to someone who reads it. Or at least results in a smile. I wish you all the best in all your writing adventures. Adventures are not just for kids, as Lavender knows.

We love this! Thanks so much for sharing!

Q: Would you like to leave a tip or a treat for our readers?

A: A Treat! Flashlight Press is giving away a copy of Me & Lavender to one reader.

How exciting! Thanks so much to Flashlight Press, and thanks again for joining us. We loved getting a closer look at your book.

Giveaway Details: Readers, to enter to win this book giveaway, 1) share this post on social media and 2) leave a comment below to thank Melody for stopping by. Elephant GIFs are welcomed and appreciated, too!

Giveaway winners will be drawn and announced on or about 10/06!

Books will be shipped in the US only.

About Melody C. Peugh:

Melody C. Peugh (pronounced pew) is a retired civil servant and a former Army wife, who spends her free time gardening, entertaining her granddaughters, and broadening young minds. She and her family live on a small farm in the central plains of Kansas. This is her debut picture book.

For more about Melody's book, or to purchase a copy, check out the below links!

Me & Lavender: https://flashlightpress.com/me-and-lavender/

Social media links:

Facebook: @Flashlight Press @Melody Peugh

Twitter/X: @FlashlightPress 

Instagram: @flashlightpress

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