Sandy Deutscher Green's Blog

Laugh and Learn with ‘Get Real, Lucille’ and an Author Interview

August 5, 2025 carolbaldwin

Today is the much awaited publication of Get Real, Lucille written and illustrated by Laura Petrisin, a fellow Monarch Educational Press author.

How can a young reader not be hooked into turning the page with a cover like that?

FROM THE PUBLISHER

Lucille is just a rubber chicken in a circus act… or is she? Tired of being the punchline, Lucille sets off on a journey to discover what it really means to be real. But when feathers fly and chickens start hatching trouble, she’ll learn that being real isn’t about scratching, clucking, or fluffing-it’s about shining from the inside out. A joyful, laugh-out-loud story about friendship, finding your voice, and learning to love who you truly are-because the world needs the Real Deal Lucille!

REVIEW

Here’s the opening:

Lucille, the rubber chicken, stared out the train window. “I wish I were a REAL chicken,” she muttered, “instead of a just a prop for circus JOKES.”

Peaches sat beside Lucille. “Don’t you like making people laugh?” She asked.

Lucille just sighed.

Everybody laughed, but Lucille just got…DIZZY.

Lucille takes a field trip to the farm to introduce herself to the chickens. Sadly, she is met with disdain.

The “real” chickens mock the rubber chicken and tell her to “Get real, Lucille!”

Unfazed even when the chickens pummel her with eggs, Lucille does what any circus performer with spirit does.

And with that, Lucille realizes, “I CAN make people laugh!”

She tells Peaches ways to improve their act, and suddenly, the crowd is laughing with Lucille, not at her.

On the way out of town, Peaches compliments Lucille’s suggestions. “It looks like our new act is a BIG hit.” Peaches said. “Those were super ideas!”

Children (and the adults who will read the book over and over again to young readers) will enjoy the puns and alliteration as well as the colorful illustrations that have a circus-like feel to them. I also enjoyed the facial expressions of the chickens and the easy to read font for the text.

In the picture book world, word count is very important. In only 700 words, Laura has captured the heart of everyone of us who is unhappy about who we are–until we realize that our abilities and talents make us unique and special.

Kudos to Laura Petrisin on her debut picture book. Young readers will laugh at Lucille’s antics. Adults will appreciate the message of self-acceptance that Laura gently weaves into a tale of a rubber chicken whose “Honk!” is just as good as any chicken’s “Squawk!”

AUTHOR INTERVIEW

CAROL: What was your inspiration?

LAURA: One day this thought popped into my mind – what if a rubber chicken wanted to be a real chicken? How would that play out? What would be the motivation? What would be the obstacles? I wanted the message to be one of finding your voice and loving who you are. I also wanted an example of self agency. The main character solves her own problem. Not wanting to be the butt of circus jokes, she came up with a plan to change her circumstances.

CAROL: Which came first, the story or the illustrations? (I wanted to say, “the chicken or the egg,” but that was just too corny!) How did you create the art?

LAURA: The story always comes first for me. I sketch the illustration and paint with alcohol ink to create a sense of flow, similar to watercolor. Then I scan it into Procreate where I clean it up and refine the picture.

CAROL: What was your path to publication?

LAURA: It’s a long one! Lol! I started writing stories in my early 30’s when my children were young. I sent manuscripts out to publishers but I got no bites. That was in the days of snail mail and it could get expensive. Then life happened. I raised the kids, taught school and homeschooled. After the kids left home, I taught as a GED instructor at a local drug rehab. That’s when I turned my attention back to writing stories. I self- published my own chapter book, Acorn and Button in 2022. Before that, I joined SCBWI, enrolled in Storyteller Academy and joined a critique group. In other words, I got serious. When I wrote Get Real, Lucille, I sent the manuscript out to a dozen or so agents and got rejections. Then I sent it out to Jennifer Lowry, Monarch’s publisher,  who saw the potential in it. She wanted revisions. I made them and sent it back. More revisions were suggested. I made them and sent it back. Then… silence. I took a hard look at the manuscript and the suggested changes. I really focused and tackled each one. I realized the manuscript didn’t have a lot of lyrical style so I worked on that. I sent it in for a third time and hit pay dirt! Lol! A note of encouragement to other writers – I’m 70 years old and I have my first traditionally published book. It’s never too late!

CAROL: How did you find Monarch Educational Press?

LAURA: I found Monarch through a workshop sponsored by Write2Ignite. Jen Lowry was one of the publishers who presented at the workshop. I liked her immediately. Jen is a bubbly, encouraging person.

CAROL: What advice do you have to someone trying to publish their first picture book?

LAURA: Stay open, humble and persevere. Don’t be so attached to your own story that you can’t be open to constructive criticism. Writing is subjective. That’s why it’s important to gain objectivity about your writing through other writers who read it, such as critique partners. The trap is to feel rejected or worse, offended when people point out where your work might be falling short. I think writers must be able to distance or detach themselves from their work in order to really listen to another’s feedback. The feedback may be helpful or it may not. The trick is to consider it at the very least. I’ve revised a lot of my writing due to feedback and it improved. 

CAROL: What’s next?

LAURA: I’m working on a picture book about my granddaughter who has Down syndrome. It’s a series of snapshots of her world and the hope that our perceptions of people who are different from us can be enlarged. It’s not people who are “less than,” but our perceptions of them that are often “less than.”

GIVEAWAY FROM CAROL:

Laura is giving away an autographed copy of Get Real, Lucille to one fortunate blog reader. If you share this post on social media and tell CAROL what you did in HER comments, SHE’ll put your name in twice. Giveaway ends August 8. U.S. addresses only. https://carolbaldwinbooks.com/2025/08/05/laugh-and-learn-with-get-real-lucille-and-an-author-interview/

Posted on September 13, 2024 by Greg Pattridge of Always in the Middle

I kept seeing this title in my long list of books to read and review. It finally reached the top and the wait was worth every minute.

THE HAUNTING OF LAKE LUCY is a novel in verse. Jayce and his twin sister, Evie, are on vacation with their parents at Lake Lucy in Virginia. There’s an empty house next door and Jayce believes the ghost who has been haunting his dreams lives there. He writes a letter to the ghost that his sister delivers to the mailbox out front…and the ghost writes back!

You’ll be guessing and guessing again with each passing chapter as to what is going on with all this strangeness. The poetry style writing flows well and helps build tension throughout:

Secondary characters like Austin, Blas, and Mr. Crunch serve as an important support for the story. Those who like a bit of creepiness written in verse, THE HAUNTING OF LAKE LUCY is the perfect companion for the upcoming season of spook.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Sandy’s poetry has appeared in children’s, university, national, and international journals. Her children’s work is included in Chicken Soup for the Child’s Soul, Highlights for Children, and poetry anthology Words and Other Wild Things.

She is a member of the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators and the author of two children’s novels and two poetry collections. Before the pandemic, she served as the literature judge for her local PTA Reflections Art Program.

She and her husband have two grown children and live in Virginia with their four rescue pets. (From Sandy’s Author Website)

REVIEW BY GARY ANDERSON AT HIS BLOG: WHAT’S NOT WRONG?

Review: THE HAUNTING OF LAKE LUCY by Sandy Deutscher Green

Book Review: The Haunting of Lake Lucy

Posted on April 13, 2024 by Carol Baldwin

Listen Up by Monarch Publishing Author Abbie Crank, is a young adult novel that will help readers learn to look beyond outward appearances and appreciate the value of individuals under the surface. Sometimes we find true blue friends when we take the time to crack a person’s outward societal façade and uncover gems of character or morals deep down at the heart level. You never know if a kind word or caring action may brighten someone’s outlook and even save their life! While I don’t have much experience dealing with some of the tough teen issues discussed in the novel, a read heightened my awareness of the importance of spreading Christ’s light and love to those I come in contact with in my workplace and friend circles.

Keres is a highschool student with a passion for songwriting and all things musical. She may have the talent and passion to strike it big on the stage but her personality and family background present some roadblocks to this dream. As a child she used to pal around with a rich kid while her mother cleaned house for his family. Keres downplays her talent and refuses to post any of her personal compositions online because she is too shy and insecure to do so. Who would want to hear the insignificant musical ramblings from a Cinderella type social nobody? However insecure Keres may feel on the outside, her caring and kind personality on the inside in a moment of crisis may save someone’s life! One night Keres “listens up”  to an anonymous call for help on her favorite podcast and successfully identifies the caller as her childhood playmate who now struggles with depression. Can she gain some self confidence and  have the courage to rekindle friendship with this individual before depression has the last word? Can she also use that newfound self confidence to get her name out there as a budding musician and begin her musical career in earnest? 

PRE-ORDERS HELP AUTHORS!

Did you know that pre-ordering a book before it’s released (Listen Up is publishing May 7) helps authors? Please read all about it on this blog! Readers– here is a way you can help an author. Authors-in-training–remember this when it’s time to share your book!

ABOUT KATIE LUNDEEN

The Lord’s hand of watchful care and protection blessed my life from my start as a tiny premature infant. Doctors diagnosed me with cerebral palsy from birth complications which mainly affected my legs and motor skills.  I also have a learning disability that does not allow me to write down or process thoughts as fast as other people.  I am a former homeschooler and obtained an Associate in Arts degree from a North Carolina community college after five years of hard work! I discovered and developed a love for writing in college. Now I pen articles for my local church newsletter and write book reviews. I enjoy my current job as a part-time library assistant in a Christian library in Matthews, NC. I have a servant’s heart and a willing attitude to grow in old skills and develop new ones along whatever path the Lord chooses to take me.

Listen Up on Amazon

My middle grade horror-in-verse is available May 14, 2024!

Your new pen pal has a grave secret…

A lakeside summer vacation is just what 13-year-old Jayce needs… except he’s convinced the ghost from his nightmares lives in the creepy house next door. But when he decides to team up with his twin sister to write a letter to the phantom neighbor, he’s shocked when THE GHOST WRITES HIM BACK. Now Jayce must uncover the dark secret of a cursed lake—or remain haunted forever.

Thank you for pre-ordering!

Amazon link:
http://tinyurl.com/3pb9b7wh

B&N:
http://tinyurl.com/mryww6nt

BAM BOOKS-A-MILLION:
https://www.booksamillion.com/product/9781957656472

BOOKSHOP.ORG
http://tinyurl.com/3ybbzsn3

And please leave a review! Even a one line review means so much!

Goodreads:

http://tinyurl.com/bdhpcva9

REVIEW** The following repost is from Carol Baldwin’s wonderful blog where she discusses all things literary! Thank you, Carol, for letting me share Georgie Bartlett’s great reviews of THE CONJUROR’S CURSE: A YA/Upper MG Book!

The Conjuror’s Curse (Monarch: 2022) by Stephanie Cotta is an epic fantasy set in the fictional world of Mestria. We follow seventeen-year-old Rowan as he struggles with his history and searches for answers.  

Rowan is an outsider in his village. For the thirteen years since his arrival to Karahvel, his albino skin and unusual marking on his neck have caused him to be viewed as cursed by the superstitious villagers. His “curse,” however, is evidenced by the mysterious deaths of his three previous guardian mothers; beginning with the first woman who took him in after his birth mother abandoned him. Even Rowan begins to worry that the rumors are true, and when his fourth guardian mother suddenly passes, Rowan is banished from his village. He must embark on a long journey to discover who cursed him and defeat them before his curse has the chance to kill anyone else.  

I am relatively new to reading fantasy, and this book was a wonderful introduction to the genre. What first struck me about The Conjuror’s Curse was the unique concept. I was immediately interested in seeing how things would play out, and it kept me on the edge of my seat. The world building and realistic, fictitious geography made Mestria intricate and well thought out. As Rowan struggles to find where he belongs, you are taken on an adventure through multiple landscapes. This includes a trip across the sea, through the jungle, and into the mountains of The Iron Kingdom. 

Rowan’s story is an exciting and heartbreaking one yet filled with hope, and within the first chapter, he is on his journey. Many beautiful and important lessons can be learned from reading The Conjuror’s Curse (trailer), such as not judging others unfairly and the importance of community and friendship.  

I believe everyone can relate in some way to Rowan’s feeling like an outsider. “Outsider. Rowan hated that word. All his life, he heard it whispered as a reminder of how different he was from everyone in Karahvel.” 

On top of that, every character has realistic struggles, making them relatable. I flew through this book and was sad when the adventure was over. I immediately wanted more. I can’t wait to read the upcoming books in the IRON KINGDOM series! I would recommend The Conjuror’s Curse to any fantasy fan, or anyone in search of a gripping story with a strong plot and strong characters.  

THE NEXT BOOK IS OUT!

After you read The Conjuror’s Curse you’re going to want to find out Rowan’s next adventures. New from Monarch Publishing, here is Book Two in The Kingdom Series: The Wraiths of Arjun.

GIVEAWAY

Monarch is giving away an E-book copy of The Conjurer’s Curse to one fortunate winner! Leave me your name in the comments on Carol’s blog, along with your email address if you are new to Carol’s blog. A winner will be drawn on January 10. 

Georgie Bartlett

Georgie Bartlett is a teen living in the beautiful mountains of North Carolina with her family and two mischievous rescue dogs. She enjoys writing, crocheting, journaling, gardening, playing the drums, and above all, reading. 

Michelle Nangle, or as she’s known by her author name Shelly Mack, is a fellow Monarch author who writes YA and picture books. She graciously interviewed me on her blog in early December 2023. Here is the interview:

Meet the Author: Monarch Showcase

One of the loveliest parts of my journey is connecting with writers. When Monarch decided to publish Landis, I was introduced to a team of authors I’m honoured to know. I want to introduce some of them to you this month. Some you might know already and the rest are authors to watch out for.

Meet Sandy Green. Thank you to the lovely Sandy for letting me into your writing world. For more info on Sandy and her upcoming book, check my stories and subscribe to her website. 

Q&A

1.Tell us about your books?
I have a middle grade horror-in-verse set to be released from Monarch Books in May 2024. It’s called Ghost Writers: The Haunting of Lake Lucy. I’m working on a sequel and hope to write a three book Ghost Writers series.

2.How do your plan your writing days?
I take a walk in the neighborhood while listening to either a middle grade podcast or middle grade book. Then I sit outside, weather permitting, and write using notes I scribbled to myself in the dark in bed the previous night!

3.Do you ever suffer from writers’ block and if so, how do you overcome it?
Yes! I find reading a well-written book, no matter the genre or age group, helps jump start my writing.

4.Where do you take inspiration from?
Reading, nature, other people’s stories. Asking ‘What if?”

5.Do you have favourite characters to write?I like to write about characters who have something to prove to themselves, even if they don’t realize it at the time.

6.What advice would you give to aspiring authors?
For a start, I would say join the SCBWI for their excellent resources and programs.

I loved reading these answers. Wishing you every success, Sandy, in your writing future. 

Thank you, Michelle, for interviewing me!

**The following blog repost is from Carol Baldwin’s wonderful blog where she discusses all things literary! Thank you, Carol, for letting me share your great interviews of author Lori Keating and illustrator Alyssa Grizenko as they collaborated on THE MEMORY QUILT! INTERVIEW WITH AUTHOR LORI KEATING

CAROL: What were your hopes for this The Memory Quilt?

LORI:  I see The Memory Quilt as a catalyst that sparks deep conversations about death with children. My hope is that it will engulf them in a world where vivid colors interweave, where soft whispers and tearful laughter coexist harmoniously. Along this journey, they will experience the bittersweet fragrance of memories lingering in the air and feel the comforting warmth and hope that can emerge from the depths of grief.

CAROL: What was your inspiration for writing The Memory Quilt?

LORI: During a dinner with friends, we heard about their son’s passing and how his brother repurposed his clothes as memory quilts for the family, which he gave as Christmas presents. This touching story stayed with me for years until I finally wrote The Memory Quilt. 

CAROL: Did you know of a young child who died?

LORI: Sadly, I have known multiple children who have passed away at very young ages.

CAROL: Why did you not mention why Jason died?

LORI: To connect with individuals who have experienced the loss of a child, I deliberately omitted Jason’s cause of death. Regardless of the circumstances, grief is a universal experience that we must all navigate.

CAROL: Are the children based on anyone you know?

LORI: Grace and Jason are inspired by children who have gone through a difficult experience of loss. However, the two characters are not based on any specific individuals.

CAROL: Can you tell us about your publishing journey? How long did you work on it and how did you find Monarch?

LORI: It took several revisions and ample feedback from critique partners before The Memory Quilt was ready for submission. It wasn’t my first attempt at breaking into the publishing industry. It all began with my debut novel, Butterfly Ink, which is scheduled for release in June 2024. Despite facing initial rejections from various agents, I finally discovered Monarch Press through a fellow critique partner who had recently signed with them. After submitting my manuscript, Jen Lowry, the publisher requested a full manuscript and then offered me a publication deal. Two months later, I found out that Jen was starting a new imprint, Caterpillar Books, which specializes in picture and chapter books. After I submitted several stories, Jen ultimately selected The Memory Quilt.

Becoming the first Caterpillar author is an exceptional honor, and the journey of collaborating alongside Jen has been an incredible privilege.

CAROL: What was your experience working with the Alyssa?

LORI: Alyssa is a skilled digital artist and a joy to work with. She even conceived the cover idea that portrays Grace reminiscing about her moments with Jason, clutching the quilt. Her stunning illustrations brought the story to life.

CAROL: How did your Christian faith influence this story?

LORI: My faith plays a significant role in shaping the stories I create. All my stories are designed to meet the needs of children, whether it’s to help them deal with grief, provide a moment of levity, impart new knowledge, or allow them to see themselves in a story that relates specifically to their unique experiences.

                                   

INTERVIEW WITH ILLUSTRATOR ALYSSA GRIZENKO

CAROL: Can you describe the process of creating the illustrations?

ALYSSA: I created the illustrations from both the written words of the story and from some notes that Lori had written about how she imagined the scene. Then I worked up the rough drafts and began the process of completing full illustrations for each page. Sometimes I would have a different idea for a scene than what was written in Lori’s illustration notes, so I would run the idea by Lori to see which direction the illustration should go.

CAROL: Was the subject matter personal to you or difficult in any way?

ALYSSA: I loved the concept of a memory quilt to celebrate and remember the life of a loved one. My grandma was a quilter and I found myself thinking of her as I worked on the illustrations.

CAROL: As you worked on the illustrations, what were your hopes for the children who will read this book?

ALYSSA: My hope is that children experiencing loss would recognize that they are not alone in their grief. One of my favorite parts of Lori’s story is that Grace’s mom actively helps her daughter to process these painful emotions.

A TEEN REVIEW

The Memory Quilt is a story about loss.

We live in an age where loss, hurt, war, and general inhumanity are prevalent and on the rise. Because of this, wouldn’t it be wise to acquaint children – the next generation – with these weighty topics? We want them to be prepared.

Lori Keating’s book puts forth the topics of death and loss gently in the character Grace, who makes a quilt out of her deceased friend Jason’s old clothes. She makes the quilt as a gift for his grieving parents.

As Grace makes the quilt, she’s forced to remember the times she had with him, which makes her sad, but she learns to look to the future with hope and joy (giving the gift to his parents).

Overall, the illustrations fit nicely with the book. They are clear and easy to understand and support the story. Thank you, Lori Keating for this book! -Janelle Ekpo

THE GIVEAWAY

If you are interested in winning this book, please leave a comment on Carol’s blog by December 18 along with your email address if you are new to Carol’s blog. If you share this on social media or sign up for my blog, Carol will give you an extra chance to win. U.S. addresses only.

A STUDY IN TERMINAL: A YA THRILLER BY KARA LINABURG** The following repost is from Carol Baldwin’s wonderful blog where she discusses all things literary! Thank you, Carol, for letting me share Amanda Moyer’s great reviews of  A STUDY IN TERMINAL: A YA THRILLER BY KARA LINABURG!

 Please welcome Amanda Moyer, my guest blogger for a review of Kara Linaburg‘s suspenseful novel, A STUDY IN TERMINAL (Monarch Educational Services, June 2022). 

REVIEW

A Study in Terminal by Kara Linaburg is a young adult novel telling the story of Sean Brogan, a young man trying to face the demons of his past that have haunted his nightmares since he was a kid. The book broaches intense topics such as self-hatred, depression, and suicide but concludes with hope, healing, and letting go.

We meet Sean first through a page of his journal and a flash-forward to the climax, where we discover that his mother ended her life ten years ago and that he intends to do the same. He has been haunted his entire life by the bad luck of watching people die because he either arrived too late or didn’t have the courage to save them.

His goal is to return to the small town he lived in with his mother before she died and finish writing his novel before following her. His plans change when his motorcycle breaks down just a few miles shy of town, and he gets picked up by the Kenzies, a family he’d known well. Throughout the book Sean reconnects with his childhood friends, Joe and Rina Kenzie, but he never explains that his mother’s death isn’t the only thing bringing him here. He is also being hunted down by his New York gang for betraying them.

Rina delivers a touching theme when she and Sean are talking about Sherlock Holmes. Sean doesn’t think much of the detective because “Sherlock only solved murders—never prevented them,” which echoes his own despair over bad luck. Rina counters: “True, but he had to learn to care for the people first before he could save them.”

When the gang members finally catch up with him, they choose to take their vengeance out on him by kidnapping and threatening Rina. Sean is terrified that she’ll just be one more person he couldn’t save, but his luck finally changes, and they all make it out alive. Despite the victory, the events solidify his determination to end his own life to prevent more people from being in danger because of him.

But this time, Rina saves him.

When she follows him into his abandoned childhood home, he suddenly remembers this wasn’t the first time. She had been there when they were kids, the day his mother died. Since then she has struggled with the same nightmares and the same guilt. She saves him by being present and caring for him. He allows her to meet him in the darkness, a darkness she knows well, and he begins to see hope and freedom he didn’t know was possible. She gives him the power to save himself by showing him that he is worth caring for.

I appreciate that the author set the tone and theme for the book from the very first page which helped me mentally prepare for the rest of the story, but also root for Sean and identify with his darkness. Sean walks out of his childhood home with a different perspective and a second chance at life. He realizes that moving forward and creating a life worth living is the only way for him to let go of the past. The story does mention Christian themes, but never directly says he found faith. In a way, it doesn’t need to. It ends with the beautiful feeling that the story isn’t over, that there is more healing to be done and that Sean will continue moving forward. 

The intense themes and vivid storytelling do warrant a caution for those who, like myself, have personally struggled with mental health, but the ending could not have held as much hope if the story had not held so much darkness. In Rina’s words: “Sunsets remind me that the darkness won’t last forever, that the light will come if I only wait for it.”

GIVEAWAY AND READER’S GUIDE

If you are interested in receiving an E-book, please leave Carol a comment on her blog here along with your email address by December 4. Remember, Carol needs to approve your comment before it goes live. 

As you can tell from Amanda’s review, this book is full of sensitive issues. Click here for the reader’s guide that will help parents, teachers, or counselors use A STUDY IN TERMINAL with teen readers struggling with depression and/or suicidal thoughts.

Amanda Moyer lives in Pennsylvania where she works as an accountant. She has always had a love of young adult fiction and fantasy and enjoys writing and world building with her cousins.