Spark Spotlight Writer: Author Mary Beth Stevens
Photo Credit: Ajax Furtography
Children’s Author Mary Beth Stevens enjoyed a successful career in marketing and PR in New England, but made some big life changes when she met two dogs named Tippy and Suzie. Suzie was Stevens’ first dog, which she and her husband adopted from a rescue group out of Tennessee and instantly fell in love with. They took Tippy in as a foster, and the connection wasn’t as instantaneous. “He was a challenge,” she admits. “Lots of training helped, and now he’s such a funny dog.” Stevens says she got the idea for the first book from those first weeks with Tippy, and when she shared stories of his antics with her friends, they told her she should write a book.
Stevens says her plan was for her first book, Tippy Finds a Home, to be her only book. Then, she started noticing the intrigue with which Tippy watched Suzie as she went to work as a Certified Therapy Dog. This led to the second book in the Tippy series, Tippy Finds His Purpose. Stevens’ latest book, Tippy Learns a Lesson, just hit the shelves in October 2021. “The theme of the book is that actions have consequences,” explains Stevens, “illustrated by having a little dog roll in poop.” She has already begun work on her fourth book, Tippy Makes a Move, about adjusting to their new life in North Carolina.
Twenty percent of the proceeds from the Tippy books goes to Blue Ridge Humane Society, where Stevens volunteers and participates in development activities. Stevens says it has been supremely rewarding to see the effect that the Tippy books have on people. “It’s been fun,” she says, smiling. “I’ve met so many cool people through Tippy.”
1. How did you become interested in writing?
You know, I think I am as much of a communicator as I am a writer. I’ve always loved words. I was a big reader as a child, and I love the challenge of finding just the right combination of words or phrases that will express what I want to get across. I was a classical singer for many, many years and singing is all about communication. Yes, it’s about the glorious sound of the human voice, but that human voice is articulating a text and as a singer, your goal is to open a door for your listener to see something, feel something, and experience something. A dear friend of mine recently told me that I was a natural storyteller – maybe that is a more accurate assessment of me.
2. What initially drew you to writing children's books?
When the idea for the first Tippy book, Tippy Finds a Home, came to me, I realized how important the story’s themes could be to children. The need to belong and the desire to feel loved are universal, and the heartache that results when those two needs aren’t met is something that young readers can deeply identify with. Though my books are geared toward children, you might be surprised by how many adults have confided in me that the Tippy books resonated with them in a very personal way.
3. Where does your inspiration come from?
I live with my inspiration – Tippy, Suzie and our cat (initially the late Toby, now the very-much-alive Peter) provide lots of great material and story ideas!
Photo Credit: Ajax Furtography
4. What is most important to you in your writing?
Writing a children’s picture book is very, very different from other kinds of books, because picture books represent the marriage of images and text. One of the first rules of thumb for a writer of children’s books is to show, not tell, which means that while you’re searching for just the right words to communicate an idea or event, a lot of times it isn’t the job of the words at all – the images will do the heavy lifting if you let them. This can be a challenge for a writer because you have to let go of the idea that you have to say everything. You must give your readers credit for being able to draw conclusions from pictures as well as words. I actually love that part of the process; it is almost like a game - “what image would tell this story as well as my words?” I am extremely fortunate to be able to work with Susan Spellman, a gifted artist and illustrator with whom I share a fun and satisfying working relationship. Publishers will tell you that children’s books should be no more than 600-1000 words, tops. This brings home the important role of the illustrations, and presents a really fun challenge for me as a writer.
5. What is the most rewarding part of what you do?
I truly love the creative process. Every piece of writing, editing, collaborating with my illustrator, publisher, designers – all of that is incredibly stimulating and fun for me. That said, truly the most rewarding piece of creating the Tippy books is when I get personal feedback on what one of the books has meant to someone, that these little stories have the ability to touch, resonate with, or move someone is an incredible joy and honor for me as an author.
You can learn more about Mary Beth Stevens on her website: www.marybethstevens.com, and be sure to check out Tippy’s Instagram account @Tippytheterrier
Steven’s latest book, Tippy Learns a Lesson, is available on Amazon and at select bookstores.
