Myrtle The Purple Turtle – Page 6

Blogger Friends:

I was moved by this post by Erin Taylor on Facebook and wanted you to read it. I asked her permission to share it here. Erin and her family live in Southern Ontario.

I’m so honoured to have had the chance to review the book, “Myrtle the Purple Turtle”, by Cynthia Reyes. As an educator, and mother of young children, I really appreciate when I find a book that speaks to important social issues that our children should be aware of and taught about appropriately.

Having children of mixed race, I want to ensure that they embrace their unique qualities and are proud of who they are and who their parents are.

Blog Photo - Layla reading Myrtle

My daughter Layla has spent many mornings shedding tears over the fact that her hair is dark and curly. She wants straight, blond hair like most of her friends. We try to explain to her that her hair is what makes her unique!

A few months ago a lady came up to me and asked about Layla’s hair. She made comments about how she feels bad for her, for having hair like “that” and how much she must hate her curly hair. I was in complete shock! Not only were her comments inappropriate, but she also said them in front of Layla. These comments were very hurtful to a young child’s developing self esteem.

“Myrtle the Purple Turtle” is a wonderful story about a turtle who is ashamed of her colour. Myrtle was being made fun of for being a purple turtle, not a green turtle. The story takes you on a journey of the feelings Myrtle goes through after being ridiculed. In the end, she has friends that help her come to the realization that she is a beautiful, unique turtle, and should not be ashamed of who she is.

Blog Photo - Layla holding Myrtle

Thank you very much, Erin.

Note to Layla from Cynthia:

Layla, my dear, you are beautiful and unique, as is your gorgeous hair. When I was your age, my hair was big and bushy and not easy to comb. When I got older, my friends envied my thick, shiny hair! It was beautiful all along, but I didn’t know it when I was little. #loveyourshell.

A Good Home, Book Reviews by Children, Children, Children's Books, Myrtle The Purple Turtle

Such Sweet Photos — And Reviews

October 17, 2017October 17, 2017 Cynthia Reyes

Meet some sweet young readers of Myrtle the Purple Turtle!

Blog Photo - Ava and Elias reading Myrtle 2

Above are Elias, almost 5, and Ava, 7, reading the book at their home near Toronto. Their mother Wendy kindly sent this photo and captions it: “Big Sis reading to Elias. It was picture day at school, hence why Elias has a tie on. :)”

And here’s Ava’s review:

Blog Photo - Ava and Elias reading Myrtle with review

And this is Arianna, at home in Wisconsin.

Blog Photo - Arianna reading Myrtle 2

Arianna’s grandmother Karen adds this advice for anyone thinking of buying a copy of the book:

“Buy two. One for your bookshelf and one for your local school.”

Great advice. I’ve also heard from two individuals in the U.S. who told me they each bought an extra copy and gave it to their local library.

A common refrain I hear from adults about Myrtle? It’s this, voiced by Ava and Elias’ mom Wendy:

“Myrtle has such a powerful message and one that Shawn and I try to instil in both our kids. I wish this story was around when I was a kid.”

Thank you, Ava, Elias, Wendy, Shawn, Arianna and Karen!

Please keep sending those photos and reviews from your young relatives and friends, everyone. I love them!

Myrtle the Purple Turtle is available at:

Amazon US

Amazon Canada

Amazon UK:

A Good Home, Author Cynthia Reyes, Children's Books, Children's Story, Illustrations by Jo Robinson

Behind the Scenes of A Picture Book

October 5, 2017October 6, 2017 Cynthia Reyes

Jo Robinson lives and works in South Africa.

I worked there repeatedly in earlier years. (I even bought this favourite tablecloth in Johannesburg.) But I live in Canada.

Blog Photo - Dining table with tulips — *Photo by Hamlin Grange*

Jo and I have never met in person.

Well-respected in the independent publishing world, Jo is an author, editor, book designer and illustrator. I follow her blog so I’d seen this small photo of her there.

Blog Photo - Jo Robinson

~~~

In early January I told my husband: “I’m sending Myrtle to Chris Graham as a guest post for his blog.”

The printed story of Myrtle the Purple Turtle had been in my desk drawer for 27 years, surviving our family’s house moves.

Hamlin shook his head. “I’m telling you — it should be a book.”

I sent it to Chris in the UK anyway.

Chris replied quickly: “I think your husband is right – you should get an illustrator to help you get this made into a children’s picture book.”

“Trust you men to support each other!” I told Hamlin, hiding a grin.

~~~

On Chris’ recommendation, I sent the story to Jo Robinson.

Jo quickly replied: “I love your story and would love to have the opportunity to illustrate it!”

Within days, she sent a few sketches, including this one:

Blog Photo - Myrtle1

And our family knew: this was Myrtle.

I had difficulty describing the images I wanted. So back I went to Hamlin, pouring on emotional blackmail: “Since you and Chris are the ones who got me into this trouble, can you help? Pleeease?”

Blog Photo - Garden White Lilac Flowers in Vase — *Photo by Hamlin Grange*

Hamlin runs a busy company, but he knows photography. Studied it, worked in it and now is my blog photographer. He understands images. So, next thing you know, Jo was working with Hamlin and me both… entirely by email.

Our daughters and sons-in-law also have an eye for these things. So when Jo sent us sketches, I asked their opinions too.

Poor Jo! She was now working with a whole family! (Except for the pets.)

Blog Photo - Jerome sitting.jpg — *Photo by Tim McCarthy*

~~~

In August, Jo sent us several versions of the book cover. The picture of Myrtle was the same, but titles and fonts can make a cover look very different.

We narrowed it down to two then chose one.

Hooray!

I dashed off an email to Jo.

~~~

Minutes later, my friend Jean called.

“I have a vanload of kids here,” she said, sounding breathless — as you’d expect from a woman surrounded by 7 grandkids on a very hot day. “Did you decide on your book cover yet? Would you like me to ask which they like?”

Seven kids, ages 3 to 7. Girls and boys.

Sounded like a focus group from my target readership!

“I’ll ask them individually, so they don’t influence each other,” Jean said.

I sent her two covers, almost sure which they’d like.

Are you ready for this?

Every child chose the one the adults had rejected!

Back to Jo I went.

“The kids have spoken!” I said.

“Fabulous!” she replied.

It was the first version she’d created.

Myrtle the Purple Turtle Cover

Daughter Lauren, an expert in digital marketing strategy, took over next.

She and Jo devised banners for my social media platforms, finalized the text and illustrations — and other stuff that I don’t really understand.

It meant that Jo was now working with the person for whom this book was written 27 years earlier. Wow.

laurenreyesgrange_cynthiareyes_blackdoll — Photo Credit: Toronto Star Newspaper

Big thanks to Jo!

And to Chris, Hamlin, Lauren, Dan, Nikisha, Tim and Jean for your contributions.

A Good Home, Children's Books, Myrtle The Purple Turtle, New Books, Self Accetpance

#LoveYourShell

October 2, 2017October 2, 2017 Cynthia Reyes

Blog Photo - Myrtle Love your shell

From my first day in front of the cameras at CBC TV (Canada’s public broadcaster) to now as an author, I have often squirmed at pictures of myself.

Blog Photo - Cynthia — **Photo by Arna Sloan**

So, of course, I agonised about posting a new profile photo on Facebook recently. What could I choose that represents who I am?

Unlike my more sophisticated author photo, the photo below is me without the fixin’s — unvarnished, no makeup.

“Look at my weird eyebrows!” I wailed to myself. “And my eyes look so tired and wrinkly!”

Then my inner “Myrtle” took over.

I overcame my fears about looking not quite good enough — and published the photo because it felt like me.

Photo - Cynthia without makeup — **Photo by Hamlin Grange**

My friends loved it. Even my hairdresser Lorna replied — for the first time ever — to my Facebook page.

My daughter Lauren says it’s a reminder to “Love Your Shell”. Love what makes you different; love what makes you you!

Meanwhile, Myrtle the Purple Turtle will be published on October 9 — that’s just days away. The responses from previewers and blogger friends have been wonderful. I’ve never had this happen before a book was published.

Myrtle the Purple Turtle Cover

The print version of Myrtle will be officially on sale on October 9. Here’s the preorder link for the Kindle listing.

As we get closer to the big day, Lauren and I had this thought:

We invite you to share a photo or story about what makes you YOU, using the hashtag #loveyourshell. Whether it’s you in the garden in your sweatpants, in the kitchen, hanging out with family, curled up reading a book, walking the dog – if it’s you being you, please share it! I believe when you #loveyourshell you give others the courage to love themselves, too. We can all use a little self-love.

Thank you and — Love your shell!