 PERSONAL HISTORY
Chellis Jensen is a Tacoma native (Washington Elementary, Mason Jr. High and Stadium H.S.), and graduate of Washington State University in Speech/Drama and Music. In the late 1960's, she created Rhinestone Rosie for Edmonton, Alberta, Canada's Klondike Days. The next 20 plus years she sang and entertained children and adults in the Pacific Northwest and throughout the country. She was well known as a speaker-entertainer for dinner clubs in 28 states. THOUGHTS ON INDEPENDENT PUBLISHING
"Independent publishing is still not considered on the same level as a book that has been supported by an agent and printed by a Publisher," says Chellis."This has to change some day as there are good and bad examples of writing even in professionally published books, and it is getting harder and harder to get a manuscript accepted. To independent publish a book means you pay for everything (even tho it is tax deductable in the end)...the illustrations, the printing, the postage, the marketing and public relations. The latter means you give away a lot of copies just to bring the book to the attention of the public, and be prepared to do your own marketing and public relations." PAST/PRESENT/FUTURE
In her lifetime she has lived in Tacoma, WA; Myrtle Creek, OR; Pullman, WA; Edmonton, Alta; and Ridgefield, WA (where she taught for one year). As a graduate of WSU she spent 20 years as Director for Pierce County Alumni, and eventually became President of the International WSU Alumni Assn. She and her current husband, who met on a Habitat for Humanity worksite , were married in 2002. They remain dedicated to the Habitat program and are also both active in their local Presbyterian church.
DREAMS AND ASPIRATIONS
"Writing and music have always been a strong part of me," says Chellis grinning. "I started piano lessons in the first grade and had several teachers over the years as we moved or they retired. In the 8th grade I wanted to be a concert pianist and play in Carnegie Hall. When my aunt married a young doctor in the 9th grade I decided I wanted to be a doctor. But skinning a frog in 10th grade Biology changed my mind. In the 11th grade I decided to try out for a school talent show, and sang a raspy song called "Orange Colored Sky". My parents decided I needed voice lessons, and you can guess how worried I was when my voice teacher asked me to bring the song I would sing to my next lesson. You never heard a raspy song sung so elegantly. His comment was something about teenagers "these days"!
I also became involved in dramatics which opened new visions for me. Then I wanted to become a famous actress on Broadway. In my senior year the drama coach told me our local Little Theatre wa doing a children's play, "Many Moons." One of the cast was sick and would I take over the part? After I agreed he told me the rest of the story. It was the lead part, the role of a KING, and I had 5 days to learn the script before the play opened! I did it, but not without a lot of apprehension and panicky feelings. Backstage, after the play, I was taking off my beard when I heard a small voice gasp, and looked down to see a small boy with his mouth open saying, "You're a GIRL!!!"
FINAL THOUGHTS
I've written more than anyone will probably want to read, and while I have read this story to hundreds of children, and quite a few adults, there is no guarantee it will be a success. All I really care about is finding children who would like to have the book to read.
First, they have to read it through, and if there are unfamiliar words I hope they ask questions and go to a dictionary. Second, I want them to like the story and use their imagination for the characters. Third, does it give them cause to think about themselves and how they treat others, or what makes their name special? Fourth, does it arouse their curiosity to want to go to a library and see if they might find another book they would like to read. Have you ever seen a child with a book...juggling it in their lap on a bus or curled up on a couch or in a chair and totally oblivious to anything else around them. Are you ever curious to know what they may be thinking? Oh the joy of carrying a pile of books from the library, and feeling so excited you can't even wait to get home before you pick one to start reading.
REMEMBER, without writers and authors, there would be no books to read. |
PRELUDE TO A BOOK
Now she has another passion...writing. This is her first book, told as a short story in 2007 to a granddaughter. The story grew until a writer friend said it could be a book someday. " What an exciting challenge," Chellis thought. This led to classes, joining writing organizations such as SCBWI and PNWA, attending a writing conference, and all the time continuing to work on the manuscript. She sent copies and excerpts to publishers and agents but no positive response. After two years, she decided to independent publish and work with Fairwood Press, owned by a family member. Her oldest son, Paul Swenson, did the illustrations, cover and book design. Paul is a graduate of Pacific Lutheran University in Fine Art and resides in Arcata, CA. After several years devoted to photography, he says this has caused him to re-charge his interest in his first love... Art.
FAMILY AND OTHER INTERESTS
Chellis has 4 children, 9 grandchildren, and 6 great-grandchildren scattered throughout the US and Canada. As she "retired" from her entertaintment work, her next interest was involvement with the Tacoma/Pierce County Habitat for Humanity, where she helped build over 60 houses. At the same time she acquired a 33 foot wooden cabin cruiser built in 1950. Over a period of several years, and with the help of other boaters at the Working Waterfront Museum in Tacoma, she restored the boat and learned how to be its captain and navigator. She also spent one year as President of the WWM. WRITING INSPIRED
Writing is something she has always enjoyed, inheriting the love and talent from her father. Here is a poem, written in the first grade:
The teacher sed on Tuesday day Shed hafto make a rule That anybody who was late Would stay in after school. Over the years she has written short stories and even a couple of short plays. But poems seem to flow from her fingers...the short kind for birthday cards or longer poems for a geometry teacher. Children and grandchildren and neighbors are the recipients of many a sudden inspiration. She admits to occasionally waking up in the middle of the night and tip-toeing downstairs to put her creative juices onto the computer screen.
"From singer to writer -this author continues to entertain children of all ages"
WRITING-READING-BOOKS-CHILDREN-TRADITION
But this is really about writing... and reading. Children, who are read to at an early age and are lucky enough to receive books from doting relatives and friends and discover the wonders of the local public library, will continue to read books all their lives. TV and movies cannot teach you enough as books can, and what they do to one's imagination and curiosity can only be measured by how an individual uses his/her life, and where it takes them.
Chellis' children grew up on her childhood books plus adding their own... and now their children are 3rd generation readers. "I love to share this story," Chellis said eagerly. "The book Madeline came out about the time I was born. In high school French class we had to translate something from English to French. I chose Madeline, which turned out to be a daunting project. But I loved it."
Both her boys liked Madeline as they grew up. One afternoon her oldest son came home from college to ask for some baby gift ideas. It was for a friend's shower . "I suggested several things, including a book, " Chellis recalls. "It doesn't have to be expensive (college students are on budgets). Make it special... attach a note telling why you chose that particular gift." A week later Paul came in the kitchen with two paperbacks, and one of them was Madeline! Inside the cover of Madeline he had written something like this: "When my mother was a little girl this was her favorite story, and when I was little she shared it with me. But we can't share our book so I'm giving you one of your own."
Several years later Chellis ran into the young mother and her daughter, who was about five years old. The mother introduced Chellis to the little girl, "This is Paul's mother, the Madeline lady." A postscript to this story is that both boys now have children of their own and Madeline is a part of their bookshelves.
"This past summer I was reading my story at a small church festival," Chellis related. "I asked a nine year old boy if he liked to read and he said, No. His mother gave me a look that said she tries, but isn't successful. What was he interested in? Football. Had he ever been to a library? No. I told him he could find all kinds of books about football in the library and encouraged him to visit a library soon. That he might be surprised."
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