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"From singer to writer -this author continues to entertain children of all ages" HOME
A visit with the author...  PERSONAL HISTORY of CHELLIS SMITH SWENSON JENSEN
-Born and raised in Tacoma, WA
-BA Speech/Drama & Music, Washington State University
-Created Rhinestone Rosie for Edmonton, Alberta, Canada's famous Klondike Days
-Professional singer,entertaining children and adults in the Pacific Northwest & US for 25 years
-Well known as a speaker-entertainer for dinner clubs in 28 states.
- also dabbled in piano and french horn.
Lifetime residences:
- Tacoma, WA
- Myrtle Creek, OR
- Pullman, WA
- Ridgefield, WA
-Edmonton, Alta, Canada
She and her current husband met on a Habitat for Humanity worksite and were married in 2002. They are also both active in their local Presbyterian church.
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 traditional Publisher," says Chellis."This must change some day. There are good and bad examples of writing even in professionally published books, and it is getting harder to get a manuscript accepted. To independently publish a book means you pay for everything ( tho it is tax deductable in the end)...the illustrations, the printing, the postage, the marketing and public relations. This also means you give away a lot of copies just to bring the book to the attention of the public. You must be prepared to do your own marketing and public relations."
DREAMS AND ASPIRATIONS
"Writing and music have always been a part of me," says Chellis. "I started piano lessons in the first grade and had several teachers over the years. In the 8th grade I wanted to be a logger (my dad was in the Lumber business); then a concert pianist and play in Carnegie Hall. 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 10th grade I tried out for a school talent show, and sang a "Doin' What Comes Natcherly". My parents decided I needed voice lessons for two years to learn to sing properly!".
I found my niche in high school drama and wanted to become a famous actress on Broadway. My senior year I was asked to help out at our local Little Theatre.The play was "Many Moons" and one of the cast got sick. agreed to do the part and learned
1. it was the lead role,
2. I had 5 days to learn the entire script,
3. it was the part of the KING (the lead role!).
I wore my hair in a page boy style, and had a false beard. After the performance, as I removed the beard, I looked down to see a small boy with his mouth open saying, "You're a GIRL!!!"
In college, I discovered that music and drama went very well together...hence my later career as Rhinestone Rosie. But long before those years ended, the urge to write was growing in me.
FINAL THOUGHTS
Mrs. Annathena Gilly gully From Puddle Rumple Tilly Willy is a story that children need to read because it shows them how bullying gets started and that teasing is not a game. I've read my story to hundreds of children, parents and teachers.
First, they have to read it through, and if there are unfamiliar words they can ask questions or go to a dictionary. Second, I want them to like the story and use their imagination for the characters. Third, Do they think about themselves and how they treat others; or what makes their name special? Fourth, does it arouse their curiosity to go to a library and 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
-started as a short story for a granddaughter and grew into a manuscript. This growth involved:
-writing classes - everything from writing a book to finding a publisher
-memberships:
Society for Children'sBook Writers & Illustrators
Pacific Northwest Authors Assn
Independent Northwest Authors
-attending a writers conference
-two years of submitting manuscripts to publishers and agents
-many many re-writes
-chosing an artist to select pictures and cover design (Paul Swenson of Arcata, CA)
-trial readings to children and schools
-selection of Fairwood Press, an Independent Publisher
-decision on number of pages, size of font, layout
FAMILY AND OTHER INTERESTS
-4 children, 8 grandchildren, and 10 great-grandchildren scattered throughout the US and Canada.
In addition to her entertaining:
-was Clerk of the Works for the Tacoma/Pierce County Habitat for Humanity, helping build 60 houses in ten years.
- 10 years as Director for Pierce County WSU Alumni
-President of the International WSU Alumni Assn 1980-81.
- acquired and restored a 1950 - 33 foot all-wood cabin cruiser
-Past-President of the Foss Waterfront Maritime Assn
WRITING INSPIRED
She inherited the love and talent of writing from her father. Here's her first poem, written in September of the 4th grade at Washington Elementary in Tacoma, WA:
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 poems, but it is the poems that seem to flow from her fingers...the short kind for birthday cards or longer poems for a special occasion. Children, grandchildren and neighbors are the recipients of many a sudden inspiration, such as LICE (when her youngest son's family was inundated) ), I Like Pink ( a tribute to a two year old granddaughter ), and a fun choral reading exercise titled "There's A Hole In our Backyard That Goes To China". 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.
WRITING-READING-BOOKS-CHILDREN-TRADITION
But this is really about writing... and reading. Children, who are read to at an early age, are lucky enough to receive books from relatives and friends, and who discover the wonders of the public library, will continue to read books all their lives. TV and movies will never take the place of books, 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 their own... her grandchildren are 3rd generation readers. Onee of her all time favorite books was Madeline. In high school French class I translated Madeline from English to French. It wasn't easy, but I loved it."
Both her boys also grew up on Madeline. In univeersity her son Paul needed some gift ideas for a friend's baby shower . Chellis suggested several things including paperback books. It doesn't have to be expensive if you attach a note as to why you picked it out. A week later Paul came home with two paperbacks, and one was Madeline! Inside the cover of Madeline he wrote 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. We can't share our book so I'm giving you one of your own."
Years later Chellis ran into the young mother and her five year old daughter. The mother introduced Chellis as, "This is Paul's mother, the Madeline lady." A postscript to this story is that both Chellis' sons are married and have children of their own and Madeline is a part of their bookshelves.
"One summer I was reading my story at a 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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