“Where do you get your ideas?” When someone asks this, if you’re like me, your mind might go blank as you struggle for an answer. I’ve written quite a few unpublished novels and picture books over the last fifteen years, and for most, I could not tell you what idea sparked those stories. But I can tell you where I got the idea for my chapter book JASMINE TOGUCHI MOCHI QUEEN.
I came across an article about a multigenerational Japanese American family that got together every New Year’s holiday to make mochi in the traditional way—steaming sweet rice, pounding it, and rolling mochi. Then, a little girl’s voice chimed in my head, complaining that she wanted to pound mochi even though it was a “man’s job.” And Jasmine Toguchi was born.
When my editor made the offer to buy MOCHI QUEEN, it was one of the happiest days of my life. Then, she surprised me by saying she wanted three more books about Jasmine Toguchi, to make a series. I was elated! She asked if I had ideas for more stories. I responded with an enthusiastic YES!
Honestly? I had no other ideas, at least not at that moment. When I wrote MOCHI QUEEN, I wrote it as a stand-alone chapter book. Suddenly, I had to come up with three more book ideas in a very short amount of time. How did I do this?
MOCHI QUEEN has a thread of Japanese culture (traditional mochi-making during the New Year holiday) with a bigger theme of a girl challenging a family rule (too young to participate) and Japanese tradition (pounding mochi has traditionally been a man’s job). With those big picture themes, I sat down and brainstormed. I focused on the cultural aspect since that’s how MOCHI QUEEN came about. I jotted down traditions that I personally enjoyed or was interested in. From that list, I picked out some favorites that I felt I could expand upon.
On Girl’s Day, families with daughters set up a display of special dolls. As a child I loved those dolls, but because they are delicate and fragile, my sister and I weren’t allowed to play with them. I could totally see Jasmine’s mom having the same rule. This became the starting point for book 2, SUPER SLEUTH, where Jasmine is excited to share Girl’s Day with her best friend, but a falling out puts the celebration in jeopardy.
Book 3, DRUMMER GIRL, focuses on taiko drumming. I’d long loved watching and hearing taiko performances and often wished I had been able to learn to play taiko. This one made the list because I knew I’d get to finally take a lesson because, you know, research! This story expanded to lead Jasmine to contemplate the meaning of talent during a school talent show when a nemesis turns the fun event into a competition.
And finally, the idea for book 4, FLAMINGO KEEPER, started with the daruma, a Japanese wishing doll. Long ago, I had wished for one of my stories to be published. I colored in one eye of the doll while I made that wish, and many years later, after I sold MOCHI QUEEN, I was finally able to color in the other eye. I was filled with joy to be able to do this after having it sit on my desk for so long with only one eye. I knew that Jasmine would feel the same joy, but what if her wish was a little impossible? Like wishing for a pet flamingo.
Delving into cultural and family traditions could be a great idea generator. What memories do you have of favorite (or not-so-favorite) traditions? What traditions or stories from your culture fascinate you? Make a list and I’ll bet you come up with more than one idea.
Happy day 4 of Storystorm! I’m cheering you on!
Debbi Michiko Florence is the author of the chapter book series Jasmine Toguchi, about a spunky 8-year-old Japanese American girl. Jasmine Toguchi, Mochi Queen (a JLG selection) and Jasmine Toguchi, Super Sleuth are available now. Two more books will follow – Jasmine Toguchi, Drummer Girl (April 3) and Jasmine Toguchi, Flamingo Keeper (July 3). A third generation Japanese American and a native Californian, Debbi lives in Connecticut with her husband, puppy, bunny, and two ducks.
Visit her at debbimichikoflorence.com and follow her on Twitter @DebbiMichiko and Instagram @jasminetoguchi.
Debbi is giving away a two-book Jasmine Toguchi prize pack. You can win MOCHI QUEEN and SUPER SLEUTH.
Leave ONE COMMENT on this blog post to enter. You are eligible to win if you are a registered Storystorm participant and you have commented once below. Prizes will be given away at the conclusion of the event.
Good luck!
584 comments
Comments feed for this article
January 4, 2018 at 8:06 am
Rebecca Colby
What a great idea for generating story ideas, and I loved reading how this led to your own success in the children’s book world! Thanks, Debbi!
January 4, 2018 at 10:20 am
Debbi Michiko Florence
You’re welcome! 🙂
January 4, 2018 at 8:12 am
Lucy Staugler
Debbi, ohhhhh, your fabulous advice just gave me three story ideas!! Thank you, story jenie!!!!
Love your books!!
January 4, 2018 at 10:20 am
Debbi Michiko Florence
Hooray for three ideas! And thank you!
January 4, 2018 at 8:15 am
Celeste
That sounds like such a fun way to generate stories!
January 4, 2018 at 8:16 am
Susan Halko
Excellent idea. Thank you, Debbi!
January 4, 2018 at 8:19 am
willowwrites
My parents were stationed in Japan before I was born. They brought back many Japanese items and a bit of language usage that fascinated me as a child. I will have to read Jasmine’s stories. Thanks for the inspiration today, Debbie 🙂
January 4, 2018 at 8:22 am
willowwrites
Sorry autocorrect changed your name without me seeing it. Thanks, Debbi!
January 4, 2018 at 10:21 am
Debbi Michiko Florence
How wonderful that your parents had that opportunity. (And no worries – autocorrect likes to add an e on my name all the time! 🙂 )
January 4, 2018 at 8:20 am
Linda Mitchell
Oh, my…..my first thought is a bit of panic….I don’t have any culture. But, I do. I am going to sit with this idea for a little while and compose a list. Thanks for a fascinating look into your work. I’m wishing you MANY more story ideas that birth into books.
January 4, 2018 at 8:20 am
Cindyb
Thanks for sharing! Great idea for ideas!
January 4, 2018 at 8:22 am
Lisa Springer
Congratulations on your chapter books. Cultural traditions and folklore are great launch pads for story ideas. Hmmm… I think I’ve got an idea or two already!
January 4, 2018 at 8:24 am
Krista Maxwell
Loved reading about how you came up with your ideas. I want a wishing doll now! Thanks for sharing!
January 4, 2018 at 8:27 am
Li'vee Rehfield
Thank you Debbi for the wonderful inspiration and for sharing yours, it was a real pleasure to experience.
January 4, 2018 at 8:29 am
willowspring
What a great idea! I recently came upon my aunt’s autobiography, and it includes tidbits from the old country. I’m going to go through it and try to find inspiration!
January 4, 2018 at 8:31 am
Melissa Chupp
I love how your books are fun and educational at the same time.
January 4, 2018 at 8:32 am
Lorraine Bonzelet
Fantastic post! Congratulations on your books. Thanks for sharing, Debbi. You’ve given me a lot to think about. The brain is engaged.
January 4, 2018 at 8:36 am
Cotton Wright
I don’t know that I have family or cultural traditions (I’ll have to think a bit more on it). But I LOVE the way you started expanding you vision for Jasmine’s other stories. I’ve struggled with how to expand my own ideas for characters I’ve written who I would like to see in other adventures so it was super helpful to see your thought process. Thank you!
January 4, 2018 at 8:37 am
Annemarie Riley Guertin
It’s was wonderful hearing your story and reading it sparked an idea for me. Thank you!!!
January 4, 2018 at 8:38 am
Barbara
Fabulous idea! I could jot down holidays or traditions and under each hopefully jot some major dramatic questions that could go with each. Also, do you think if I draw a smiley face and color in one eye that would count as my wishing doll? 😀
January 4, 2018 at 8:38 am
MD Knabb
Your post was fun to read, Debbi. Great idea to find something in your own background for a book. Yours sound terrific. Thanks for sharing your story.
January 4, 2018 at 8:38 am
Tina Cho
I love hearing how this series came about. Great tips looking at culture.
January 4, 2018 at 8:38 am
kathalsey
Debbi, I’ve read book 2 because book 1 was out at my library. Love Jasmine’s voice and the realistic, universal conflicts she confronts. Great idea to mine family and culture for our stories.
January 4, 2018 at 8:39 am
julielacombeauthor
We love Jasmine in my house! Thank you for sharing your traditions and process for expanding Jasmibes world.
January 4, 2018 at 8:47 am
Lauren Barbieri
Great post–thank you. Looking forward to reading this series! Your great suggestion for contemplating your own culture(s) just sparked an idea.
January 4, 2018 at 8:49 am
storyfairy
Wow, I love this post. I’m looking forward to delving into my family’s traditions. Thanks for sharing.
January 4, 2018 at 8:52 am
Linda Chavez
I love the cultural aspect of your work. Your books offer a wonderful way for young readers to relate to, or learn about the Japanese culture. You’ve given me a great new story generation idea! You’ve also made me want to read Jasmine Toguchi! Thank you!
January 4, 2018 at 8:52 am
illustratorm
Great post Debbi. I like your thought process for your charming, educational and fun series. Thank you for the info…Great titles!
January 4, 2018 at 8:52 am
Rita Antoinette Borg
I guess this would work for all cultures! Great ideas thanks so much
January 4, 2018 at 8:53 am
Nat Keller
A great post on reflecting on your heritage and family to find inspiration- thank you!
January 4, 2018 at 8:53 am
rbkrackeler
This is so great! I would love to read this series and am so happy to see that more culturally diverse books have arrived!
January 4, 2018 at 8:55 am
loriasteel
Debbi – this was just the post I needed to dig into some of my own family traditions and it landed with an IDEA! Thank you! Storystorm is getting the creative juices flowing again and I’m so grateful to see you on Day 4. Hope things are well!
January 4, 2018 at 8:57 am
jheitman22
Congratulations on these great books! Thanks for sharing the inspiration behind them, Debbi!
January 4, 2018 at 8:59 am
Annik Babinski
Thank you for sharing this great idea!
January 4, 2018 at 9:02 am
Jennifer Parker Raudenbush
Congratulations, Debbi, and thank you for the great ideas!
January 4, 2018 at 9:02 am
Nadine Gamble
Childhood memories always flowing through my brain, time to write them down.
January 4, 2018 at 9:05 am
Sydney Spann
Sounds like a wonderful series!
January 4, 2018 at 9:05 am
Mindy Baker
Love the culture focus!
January 4, 2018 at 9:07 am
4tara
This post really resonates with me on so many levels. I feel relief, joy, and gratefulness. I have a multicultural background but I had learned to hide it in my writing and wrote mainly from a white perspective as I was instructed by writing coaches. They told me that no one would want to read my stories if the main character wasn’t mainstream. Going to throw that away and mine my cultural and family heritage. Thank you! Putting your books on my reading list.
January 4, 2018 at 10:25 am
Debbi Michiko Florence
YAY! I’m so happy to hear you’re going to delve into your culture/background! Go you!
January 4, 2018 at 9:08 am
58chilihed13
Had never heard of this tradition, so quite enjoyed adding something to my life long learners list!
January 4, 2018 at 9:08 am
Marie Sanderson
What a lovely series! Thank you fir inspiring us to delve into a treasure trove of family traditions.
January 4, 2018 at 9:09 am
Cheryl
These books sound wonderful. My initial reaction was how have I not heard of these and I’m so glad I now have. 😊
January 4, 2018 at 9:09 am
volunteerpianist
Thanks for the inspiration, Debbi! I think I can come up with writing ideas from my German family heritage and from my daughter’s Korean heritage.
January 4, 2018 at 9:09 am
Andria Rosenbaum
Learning about other cultures kindles an interest to share parts of ourselves with others. What a great gift to share with kids!
January 4, 2018 at 9:09 am
pathaap
Great to see the process behind the story! Thanks for the ideas, Debbi.
January 4, 2018 at 9:11 am
Debbie Austin
Thank you, Debbi, for these ideas. You and Jasmine have inspired me!
January 4, 2018 at 9:14 am
rimna
Thanks for a great way to brainstorm ideas.
January 4, 2018 at 9:16 am
M Lapointe Malchik (@imartytweet)
I’m looking forward to reading your Jasmine series, Debbi. I love how it came about and that you needed to think fast to generate ideas for more books. You already have me thinking about my own family traditions as an idea source for picture books. Thank you so much for your generous book giveaways and sharing your craft.
January 4, 2018 at 9:17 am
michelemeleen
Thanks for sharing! I love the honesty in not knowing where most of your ideas come from as I often feel the same.
January 4, 2018 at 9:17 am
Polly Renner
Congrats on your chapter book series…sounds like an educational and fun read!! And thank you for our daily inspiration:>
January 4, 2018 at 9:21 am
marlainawrites
Loved hearing about how these stories came together, Debbi (and I also love mochi!).
January 4, 2018 at 9:23 am
Lynne Marie
Glad you remembered the stories behind these stories. So fun to watch the seeds bloom and grow. Congrats and so happy to have known you from so long ago! XO
January 4, 2018 at 10:27 am
Debbi Michiko Florence
I remember you! Hellooooo! 🙂
January 4, 2018 at 9:25 am
nancy armo
Loved reading JASMINE TOGUCHI MOCHI QUEEN! Looking forward to the new books in the series. Wonderful and inspiring post.
January 4, 2018 at 9:27 am
theresenagi
Congratulations Debbie on your book series! Thank you for sharing how your childhood experiences inspired your books.
January 4, 2018 at 9:29 am
David McMullin
Great, Debbi! I love the way you used your layers of themes to discover the direction you should take with the other books.
January 4, 2018 at 9:30 am
Megan Taraszkiewicz
What a great idea and your books look amazing! Thank you for sharing and I’m off to make a list of our family traditions!
January 4, 2018 at 9:32 am
Becky Scharnhorst
Thank you for sharing how you came up with your ideas! I’m excited to spend some time thinking about how my own cultural and family traditions to see what I can come up with.
January 4, 2018 at 9:32 am
Kaitlin Hedberg
An inspiring and also fascinating read (I love the wishing doll tradition!). Congrats on your upcoming books, and thank you for sharing such a helpful story!
January 4, 2018 at 9:38 am
Cathy Ballou Mealey
I hope there will be a fifth JASMINE – I love your books!
January 4, 2018 at 9:39 am
Kim Pfennigwerth
It is always so much fun to hear the story behind the story. I often don’t remember what sparked something either but there is nothing like ‘heaingr’ your character’s voice! Thank you Debbi!
January 4, 2018 at 9:43 am
gayleckrause
Great ideas for inspiration within our own cultures. Thanks for sharing.
January 4, 2018 at 9:44 am
lmconnors
These books look great–fun and informative about a culture I don’t know that much about. Congratulations!
January 4, 2018 at 9:45 am
Heather Thurmeier
I love the sound of these stories, and that they were inspired by your traditions! I want to read them myself!
January 4, 2018 at 9:46 am
Virginia Law Manning
Thank you, Debbie! Today, as I watch the snow fall, I’ll try to remember our family traditions! I’m sure one will make a fun story. I certainly loved hearing about the traditions in the Japanese culture!!!
January 4, 2018 at 9:47 am
Carolyne Ruck
Very inspiring. I appreciate the way you celebrate your culture but pull us all in with the universality of the themes.
January 4, 2018 at 9:52 am
Debra Shumaker
I love hearing how stories are born. Thanks for sharing!
January 4, 2018 at 9:55 am
Laura Purdie Salas
Congratulations–these books sound so fun! Thanks for sharing your idea process here. And I’m fascinated by the coloring in one eye. Research time for me!
January 4, 2018 at 9:56 am
Juliana Jones
Thanks for sharing your culture and how your fun series began.
January 4, 2018 at 9:57 am
Jennifer Phillips
Oh my gosh…I have a daruma doll from my work, where we have a recognition process to color in the second eye when we accomplish a major initiative. I hadn’t thought of bringing that tradition to my writing. Thanks for sharing your idea generation process. Very interesting! Congratulations on your books.
January 4, 2018 at 9:59 am
Sallye O'Rourke
Interesting…and inspiring!
January 4, 2018 at 10:07 am
Marianne Kuzujanakis
Thanks for the fun way of including culture into writing for children.
January 4, 2018 at 10:07 am
Genevieve Petrillo
I’ve always wanted to have the problem of an editor saying she’d need 3 more books from me. You had a great solution. I hope I do as well when the “problem” finally happens to me. *boom* One eye colored…. Now we wait….
January 4, 2018 at 10:08 am
Lisa Freund
Inspiring post! Looking forward to reading your stories.
I must get a daruma. Thanks!
January 4, 2018 at 10:09 am
Rick Starkey
Love the idea of using cultural and family traditions for story ideas. Thanks.
January 4, 2018 at 10:11 am
Tracy Hora
Your books sound marvelous. I’ll have to get my hands on them! Thanks for the spark to look back at family traditions.
January 4, 2018 at 10:11 am
Paula Young
My granddaughters would love your books! Very inspiring!
Paula Young
January 4, 2018 at 10:13 am
LaTonya Richardson
Another great Storystorm post, and an awesome way to generate ideas!!! Thanks!!!
January 4, 2018 at 10:14 am
junesmalls
What a wonderful story. I’m so happy you were able to color in the second eye. As a kid I devoured any story that had a culture different than mine. We didn’t travel so I explored the world through my library card. I hope kids enjoy exploring your family traditions too! 🙂
January 4, 2018 at 10:15 am
Alice Carty Fulgione
Every family has traditions and using our own cultural and family traditions to spark stories is a great idea.
January 4, 2018 at 10:15 am
Tiffany Painter
Tiffany Painter
January 4, 2018 at 10:18 am
Tiffany Painter
I never knew the story behind the wishing doll. I have one sitting on a shelf from a friend long ago. No it has new meaning.
January 4, 2018 at 10:17 am
Charlotte Offsay
I loved reading this blog post. Fascinating to learn about other traditions and a great way to brainstorm. Thanks!
January 4, 2018 at 10:18 am
Linda Staszak
Great story! I can’t wait to read these books.
January 4, 2018 at 10:19 am
Latasha Vernon
Coincidence or meant to be? I was just thinking of a story revolving around traditions. Thanks for sharing your thought process!
January 4, 2018 at 10:21 am
Kristin Wauson
Loved reading the stories behind the stories. Would love to read these books! Thank you for sharing this post!
January 4, 2018 at 10:22 am
Brittanny Handiboe
I actually can’t think of any family traditions that stand out like this one. My fiancé’s family seems to have more traditions than mine does. Maybe I can write about a family whose tradition is to have no traditions 🤷♀️
January 4, 2018 at 10:25 am
Jen Arena
Congratulations on your wonderful series!
January 4, 2018 at 10:25 am
michelle gajda
The stories behind the stories are very often what motivate me to read them! Love having the background of them! Thanks for sharing and the chance to win!!
January 4, 2018 at 10:25 am
jodieparachini
This post has triggered so many ideas! Thank you!
January 4, 2018 at 10:29 am
Joana Pastro
Debbi, thanks for sharing your story! I loved learning how Jasmine Toguchi became a series and how you took the challenge without hesitation. Your process is inspiring. Congratulations!
January 4, 2018 at 10:30 am
Lisa Robinson
Great post!!!
January 4, 2018 at 10:30 am
Debbi Michiko Florence
Just in case commenters scroll through and find this – everyone has traditions and it doesn’t have to stem from their culture/race/religion. I’m thinking right now of my husband’s childhood tradition of how his mom used a dinner bell to call all 9 boys to meals. This dinner bell is now hanging in our kitchen. (There, I just gave away an idea LOL).
January 7, 2018 at 1:11 am
Teresa Traver
This is a really great point. For example, in my family of origin we have some weirdly specific traditions about what you should eat and drink on special occasions. On birthdays when we have cake and ice cream, the ice cream has to be Neapolitan flavor– and no, spumoni is not “close enough” to Neapolitan to count! This is not a cultural tradition at all, so far as I know — just a family quirk. I bet other folks have similar traditions.
January 4, 2018 at 10:31 am
Heather Pierce Stigall
Thanks for the ideas. I’ll have to ponder my own family traditions on this snowy day!
January 4, 2018 at 10:32 am
marty
Congratulations on your book series, Debbi! And thanks for the suggestion of using family traditions and stories; a great idea generator for all of us that we often tend to forget about.
January 4, 2018 at 10:33 am
Laura Hancock
Writing about cultural traditions is something everyone enjoys hearing. Thanks for the wonderful inspiration and entertaining books.
January 4, 2018 at 10:33 am
.CAROLE CALLADINE
Great post. I’m going to sift through my memory for family traditions. Thank you. I love stories within a story.
January 4, 2018 at 10:37 am
Jane Hawkins
Debbie, thank you for reminding me that looking at family is a good place to find ideas.
January 4, 2018 at 10:37 am
Cheryl T.
I love this. The idea of combining cultures is awesome and shows that girls can do whatever they put their minds too. Great ideas and inspiration. Thank you!
January 4, 2018 at 10:37 am
saputnam
Great post, Debbi! Thank you for giving us a peek at how your Jasmine Toguchi series came about. Using family traditions as an idea generator is a terrific way to go!
January 4, 2018 at 10:41 am
Erik Ammon
hmmmmm…now to delve into my family’s past 🙂 Thanks for the ideas and congrats on your books!!
January 4, 2018 at 10:44 am
Nancy Ramsey
I really enjoyed this post! Thanks for your inspiration today!
January 4, 2018 at 10:47 am
Judy Bryan
You’re an inspiration, Debbi! Congratulations on your wonderful Jasmine Toguchi series!!!
January 4, 2018 at 10:47 am
Pam Miller
Debbi, congratulations on expanding your stories about Jasmine. I admire the way you brought tradition into the contemporary world, giving the mochi making job to a girl, and doing “research” to own Jasmine’s culture.
January 4, 2018 at 10:49 am
Rita K.
Debbi, Your books sound wonderful and I love how your original inspiration came from an article you read. I often scour the newspaper looking for that kind of inspiration. Thanks for sharing!
January 4, 2018 at 10:50 am
carolmunrojww
Great advice, Debbi. I’m making note of this because one of my big fears is being asked to write more books about a particular character. I freeze and can’t imagine a single idea. Thanks!
January 4, 2018 at 10:50 am
Ashley Bankhead
This was such a good post! I love the idea of looking back at family traditions to find ideas. There are probably so many hidden gems. Thanks for sharing, and for giving us such a great suggestion.
January 4, 2018 at 10:53 am
C.L. Murphy
Ooh…you just gave me today’s idea when you reminded us that traditions don’t have to be cultural. Thank you, Debbi, for the inspiration!
January 4, 2018 at 10:56 am
Shelley Kozakevich
Thanks for sharing.
January 4, 2018 at 10:58 am
Jennifer B Bower
I’m so glad you were able to give your wishing doll its other eye! Congratulations and thanks for an encouraging post!
January 4, 2018 at 11:02 am
writeknit
Debbi and Tara – thank you for sharing your journey of hopeful author to published author. Your determination and drive are an example to anyone who is waiting and writing and hoping for that day! 🙂
January 4, 2018 at 11:02 am
marylouisealucurto
Thank You for your inspiring post!
January 4, 2018 at 11:04 am
Amanda Davis
Thanks for sharing your own special traditions! Have a good list going of mine 🙂
January 4, 2018 at 11:05 am
Maria Bostian
Thanks for the great post. I immediately had an idea based on one of my favorite foods as a kid. Great post!
January 4, 2018 at 11:06 am
McCourt Thomas
What fun stories! Thanks for sharing!
January 4, 2018 at 11:07 am
Krissy
Great post! Congrats on making the four books! They sound great!
January 4, 2018 at 11:08 am
June Sengpiehl
What a great post–fun and educational too.
January 4, 2018 at 11:12 am
aliciaminor
Cultural ideas always work and they find the writer in you. With your hard work and determination, everything is possible. I am happy for you. Happy new year and more books to come in the future.
January 4, 2018 at 11:15 am
sharonwernerauthor
Such great story ideas. I love books that can expose my kids to different cultures and traditions.
January 4, 2018 at 11:15 am
Jen Bagan
Thank you Debbi! I loved hearing about how you came up with your ideas for these books – they look adorable!
January 4, 2018 at 11:15 am
Lindsay Maeve
Diverse, beautiful traditions inspiring amazing work!? These stories sound like an epic ball of amazingness. Thanks for telling us about your journey!
January 4, 2018 at 11:16 am
danielledufayet
I love that you said yes to a series when you weren’t really prepared. It goes to show we need to never be afraid to go for it! Congrats!
January 4, 2018 at 11:16 am
Chad Allen Wonsik
Thanks for sharing your story, Debbi! Very inspiring!
January 4, 2018 at 11:17 am
Cortney Benvenuto
Debbi, Thank you for sharing your process. Very inspiring! Congrats on the series!
January 4, 2018 at 11:18 am
R.J. Koehn
I can’t wait to check out this series! Also, great idea generating! Thank you!
January 4, 2018 at 11:22 am
Mark
So great to see books that can actually teach me something!
January 4, 2018 at 11:23 am
Penny Parker Klostermann
Thanks for the inspiration, Debbi. I’m thinking back to my childhood and the traditions we kept. Congratulations on your success. I loved hearing how you came up with ideas for a series when you originally thought you had a stand-alone book. Very interesting!
January 4, 2018 at 11:26 am
celticsea
I love the concepts in these books. I am going to try to think of some traditional roles that can be reversed! Continued success!
January 4, 2018 at 11:28 am
Susan Shea
I love the idea of combining culture, character and plot!
January 4, 2018 at 11:30 am
Patricia Alcaro
Drawing inspiration from our family culture is a great idea. Thank you
January 4, 2018 at 11:31 am
Sherry Howard
I love these books! I wish more books like this introduced early readers to other cultures!
January 4, 2018 at 11:32 am
Brenda Huante
Thank you so much, Debbi! Jasmine sounds so much fun!
January 4, 2018 at 11:32 am
Anita Banks
What a wonderful journey!
January 4, 2018 at 11:35 am
Joan Swanson
I love family traditions. Somehow it seems to be becoming a lost thing, which is sad. Thank you writing this Chapter Book, maybe it will bring some of these little things back.
January 4, 2018 at 11:36 am
Michele Prestininzi
I love using family traditions as a jumping off point. Thanks for sharing.
January 4, 2018 at 11:40 am
chattytcp
Traditions are rich material for writers. Thank you so much for sharing today. Even. Store I finished reading, several ideas popped into my head. Congrats on your success!
January 4, 2018 at 11:38 am
yangmommy
Debbie, I’m definitely going to hunt down these books–they sound wonderful! Ironically, this Christmas I made my first ever mochi matcha cake for our annual party; I’d never tried mochi before but wow, it was delicious! Huge fan now!
January 4, 2018 at 11:49 am
Debbi Michiko Florence
Mochi match cake? That sounds amazing? Any chance you can share that recipe with me? 😉
January 8, 2018 at 3:56 pm
yangmommy
Absolutely! Here is the link to the recipe I followed. It was definitely a grocery store scavenger hunt, looking for sweet rice flour and nothing written in English! TG for images to shop by 🙂
https://food52.com/recipes/34999-matcha-coconut-mochi-cake
January 23, 2018 at 6:37 pm
yangmommy
Debbi, did you have a chance to make the cake yet? Saw a write up of your book in the Post recently 🙂 !
January 4, 2018 at 11:41 am
Debra Daugherty
Just reading your post, I’ve learned so much about Japanese customs and transitions. Thank you, Debbi, for sharing. Now I need to dwell on my own family traditions and find a story.
January 4, 2018 at 11:42 am
Sue Heavenrich
what a cool story about inspiration and traditions! I can’t wait to read these books. Jasmine sounds like a character close to my heart.
January 4, 2018 at 11:44 am
Susanne
Love this post! Families put their own twists on cultural traditions. This will encourage so many ideas!
January 4, 2018 at 11:46 am
judyrubin13
Thank you, Debbi, for sharing your inspirations and insights. So many aspects of our cultures and experiences add to our journey.
January 4, 2018 at 11:48 am
Teresa Daffern
I love this! So many story ideas and characters await in our cultural traditions. I wonder about those of us who might feel a lack of significant traditions to draw from, but as you say, research!
Thanks for sharing Debbi!
January 4, 2018 at 11:48 am
Penny
Congratulations on your Jasmine Toguchi series and thanks for your insights on developing your ideas for the books.
January 4, 2018 at 11:49 am
fspoesy
Debbi, I am fascinated with the Wishing Doll! What a cool cultural tradition. What a great post. Thanks for the inspiration. I know I’m going to generate a number of Storystorm ideas from my family’s cultural traditions.
January 4, 2018 at 11:51 am
moviemommie
Thanks for sharing. I love how your post taps into the important idea that the personal (the specific) becomes the universal!
Jenna Feldman
January 4, 2018 at 11:51 am
Rachel Hamby
Thanks Debbi! My family has a tradition that my daughter is always trying to change. Hmm, maybe I can play with that idea today.
January 4, 2018 at 11:52 am
rrmalin
Flamingos! What glorious birds they are! My best friend collects flamingos. My travel tradition is to find a flamingo for her. Except for New Zealand and Australia, I’ve had pretty good luck. I can see the story now.
January 4, 2018 at 11:54 am
nikkibergstresser
Family traditions…what a great focus for generating ideas today. Thanks!
January 4, 2018 at 11:56 am
KASteed
I like the way you brought your family traditions into your story. Thank you Debbi!
January 4, 2018 at 11:57 am
Tom Barrett
Great post. Gives me an idea already. 🙂
January 4, 2018 at 11:57 am
Louann Brown
Great post Debbie. Looking forward to reading your books! Loved that all were based on your traditions. So many to choose from too. Hope there are more to come in your series.
January 4, 2018 at 11:57 am
joyacey
Great idea. Having mixed cultures adds to the story stew.
January 4, 2018 at 11:58 am
Aimee
Thank you and big congrats on your series! I love that you got your drum research and the story behind coloring both eyes of your wishing doll- yay!
January 4, 2018 at 12:01 pm
allibrydon
These books sound amazing!! Thanks for sharing your writing journey with us, Debbi.
January 4, 2018 at 12:01 pm
Susan Macartney
Debbi – thank you for this brilliant idea incubator! And for reminding me about some of the wonderful Japanese traditions. Lived in Japan for 5 years and my daughter was born there. Happy to learn about you and your work through this post!
January 4, 2018 at 12:02 pm
Donna L Martin
Debbi, your story of traditions reminded me so much of something that happened to me when I was about 11 years old. My older sister had a pen pal who came to visit us. Mieko was from Japan and during her stay she taught me how to do origami. We talked about the Cherry Blossom festival and Girl’s Day and lots of lovely Japanese traditions I had never heard of before. It sparked a lifelong love of exploring other cultures while remaining true to my own southern Louisiana Cajun traditions…
Great post!
January 4, 2018 at 12:10 pm
kirsticall
I love the idea of using family traditions as story ideas! And I loved learning more about your writing journey, Debbi!
January 4, 2018 at 12:13 pm
Carol Gwin Nelson
Debbi, thanks for the great post. It has inspired a lot of ideas and thoughts about culture.
January 4, 2018 at 12:15 pm
Marlene Rohr
I love this idea. Growing up in German home, I have many traditions to consider for writing ideas. I also enjoy learning about other cultures and am thankful for those who share their cultural experiences with others through writing.
January 4, 2018 at 12:16 pm
Kevan Atteberry
Love this, Debbie!
January 4, 2018 at 12:17 pm
shirley301
A fascinating series. Thanks for sharing and giving us ideas.
January 4, 2018 at 12:19 pm
Tina Barbour
Thank you for this idea–I look forward to seeing what I can come up with. I enjoyed reading JASMINE TOGUCHI MOCHI QUEEN–I loved Jasmine’s spunk and heart.
January 4, 2018 at 12:23 pm
Doreen E. Lepore
Congrats on your book series and thank you for sharing your story on how you generated your ideas!
January 4, 2018 at 12:24 pm
bevbaird
Thanks for sharing your journey. jasmine is a spirited character indeed.
January 4, 2018 at 12:24 pm
Sherri Jones Rivers
Wow. What creative brain work on your part, Debbie. These sound wonderful. Already I am learning something about another culture. I imagine she has even more adventures to come.
January 4, 2018 at 12:26 pm
Johnell DeWitt
My daughter and I loved Jasmine Toguchi Mochi Queen. Very fun story. I can’t wait to read the others.
January 4, 2018 at 12:26 pm
Edith Robson
Thank you so much for sharing your inspiration and success. As a Celt, I love all our old traditions and tales. and stories written with love are so uch more appealing. All the best.
January 4, 2018 at 12:27 pm
Vicky Wirkkala
What a fun series and great way to conjure up ideas!
January 4, 2018 at 12:32 pm
Janice Woods
Great read! Thanks so much for sharing.😊
January 4, 2018 at 12:36 pm
Lori Mozdzierz
Thanks for the share on how Jasmine Toguchi came to be!
January 4, 2018 at 12:36 pm
Gabriele
Thanks, Debbi! Your post inspired me to pull out and rethink a chapter book that has been collecting dust for years! Congrats on your multi-book deal!
January 4, 2018 at 12:39 pm
Darlene Ivy
I can see so many possibilities! Thank you!
January 4, 2018 at 12:40 pm
Robin Brett Wechsler
Thanks for sharing, Debbi, and congrats on your success. I love learning the story behind the stories. You’ve definitely inspired! And I’m excited to read all the books about Jasmine.
January 4, 2018 at 12:44 pm
Janie Reinart
Debbi,
Congrats on your series❤️ Great brainstorming ideas.
January 4, 2018 at 12:44 pm
laurieajacobs
Congratulations Debbi! Loved reading about the way you expanded your vision of your character. Especially loved the part about saying yes to your editor when you weren’t sure what was next. There’s a great lesson for all writers–don’t be afraid to leap into the unknown! Looking forward to reading your books.
January 4, 2018 at 12:45 pm
Pamela Harrison
An idea popped into my head as I neared the end of your post. Thank you for such a good idea!
January 4, 2018 at 12:46 pm
jjsewell416
Jasmine sounds like a fun character. I wish I were still a school librarian – I would love to buy these for the library!
January 4, 2018 at 12:50 pm
Michele Thorne
I got four ideas from this post alone reflecting on my Hispanic heritage. Thank you!!
January 4, 2018 at 12:52 pm
Kassy Keppol
Thank you for the ideas.
January 4, 2018 at 12:57 pm
Lori Dubbin
Today I will “Super Sleuth” my family traditions — congratulations on your inspirational chapter book series!
January 4, 2018 at 12:58 pm
Suzanne LaLiberte Lewis
I love how your writing journey returned you to your cultural traditions and unique family dynamic. You’ve beautifully tapped in to create fun stories that are getting published! Yay for you!
January 4, 2018 at 12:59 pm
seschipper
Congratulations! What a great character as well as story she tells!!! It is only day 4 and my head is spinning with the great blogs!!
😉
January 4, 2018 at 1:01 pm
Corey Schwartz
Wow, fascinating! I lived in Tokyo for two years as a young child so I look forward to reading this series!
January 4, 2018 at 1:02 pm
Dawn Prochovnic
This was inspiring and motivating. Ideas are coming (and coming back!). Thanks!
January 4, 2018 at 1:05 pm
Leanne Shirtliffe
Jasmine sounds delightfully mischievous!
January 4, 2018 at 1:09 pm
wyszguy
I love how you’ve taken traditional events or processes and fitted them to your protagonist. Very creative!
January 4, 2018 at 1:10 pm
8catpaws
Brings back memories of rolling out strudel dough on a big table in a sun-splashed kitchen with my great-aunt…
January 4, 2018 at 1:11 pm
Traci Sorell
I love this post. Thanks for sharing how these ideas came to you, Debbi. Fabulous!
January 4, 2018 at 1:11 pm
Naana
Thanks for sharing, Debbi. That inspires me to look at more of my cultural traditions.
January 4, 2018 at 1:11 pm
Laurie Bouck
Great advice, and such an inspiring story – congratulations! Thank you for sharing! 🙂
January 4, 2018 at 1:29 pm
colleenrkosinski
Very interesting!
January 4, 2018 at 1:32 pm
Val McCammon
How true that our cultural and family experiences are treasure-trove of ideas we need to delve into. I love how you used that in getting your series ideas. Thanks, Debbi!
January 4, 2018 at 1:33 pm
lindaschueler
Wow! These books sound awesome!
January 4, 2018 at 1:34 pm
hmmmmm
So much to mine here — even for Euro-white mutts like me.
Plus you have me so curious to learn more about how mochi is made — MOCHI QUEEN is on hold, and once I finish brainstorming on family traditions, a-googling I will go too… Thanks Debbi.
January 4, 2018 at 1:35 pm
Elaine Kiely Kearns
Fabulous post! Thanks!
January 4, 2018 at 1:35 pm
matthewlasley
I have heard it repeated to “write what you know” and this is another example of it. You don’t have to be an expert in it, but it gives your voice authenticity.
January 4, 2018 at 1:36 pm
heidikyates
I love this wonderful post about using culture and traditions as the inspiration for story ideas! Thank you Debbi! 🙂
January 4, 2018 at 1:36 pm
chardixon47
Thank you, Debbi, for sharing your idea process. It’s fascinating to read stories about family traditions. Congratulations!
January 4, 2018 at 1:36 pm
fenrulin
…And now I need to get a daruma doll of my own!
January 4, 2018 at 1:39 pm
Jill Bhowmik
Love this post! I will brainstorm family traditions now. And, I’m so excited to learn about a series I know my daughter would love!
January 4, 2018 at 1:43 pm
Kimberly Sprinkles Cowger
Great advice! Even if we don’t all have cultural traditions that are different like Jasmine, we’ve all got our own family traditions that are different from other people!
January 4, 2018 at 1:46 pm
Hélène Sabourin
The best way to keep traditions is to write about them.
January 4, 2018 at 1:50 pm
Deslie English
Thanks for sharing your thought process, Debbi. Great post.
January 4, 2018 at 1:54 pm
tootienienow
So inspiring. I always think my childhood was uneventful but you helped me think of events that I can recreate with more drama.
January 4, 2018 at 1:54 pm
supermario6
These books sound wonderful!
January 4, 2018 at 1:57 pm
Caren Cantrell
Unfortunately I fall into the category of families who have no traditions. We seem to always go with the flow instead. But you story did give me an idea of asking others what their traditions are and starting from there.
January 4, 2018 at 1:57 pm
Kathy Doherty
Thanks for the encouragement . . . and for sharing your journey!
January 4, 2018 at 2:01 pm
karianngonzalez
Thank you for sharing, I love reading about family and cultural traditions, especially as I celebrate family traditions with my daughters, and create our own!
January 4, 2018 at 2:07 pm
Kimberly
Thank you for sharing – this is why we need diverse writers! Can’t wait to read your book and mine my childhood!
January 4, 2018 at 2:07 pm
Erin Forrester
Loved hearing more about the origins of your books! Never thought to thu knof my own childhood since I am watching and living in my children’s world! I can’t wait to go back to the 80’s!
January 4, 2018 at 2:15 pm
candicewolff
I had my idea before I even finished reading! Thank you, thank you!!! So excited!
January 4, 2018 at 2:17 pm
Sarita F.
How wonderful that you were able to paint in the second daruma eye. Love this approach to idea generation.
January 4, 2018 at 2:21 pm
Kathleen Wilcox
Congratulations, Debbi, thanks for the encouragement!
January 4, 2018 at 2:23 pm
Rebekah Lowell
Sounds like my daughters would love your books! We’ll be checking them out! Girl power!
January 4, 2018 at 2:25 pm
Colleen Dabney
Our traditions are such treasured threads! Your books sound interesting! Thank you!
January 4, 2018 at 2:26 pm
Michele Helsel
Wow! Thank you for taking us through the process of making a series. Very interesting!
January 4, 2018 at 2:32 pm
Anne Appert
Thank you for this idea for brainstorming! I really enjoyed this look into your brainstorming process. I’m excited to start thinking about my childhood traditions and what I can glean from them.
January 4, 2018 at 2:47 pm
JEN Garrett
My kids are part Japanese, so I’m so excited to find this series! I’m very American, and have had to learn a little of the Japanese culture and food in order to keep the heritage alive. I, too, love taiko drummers – I have to say, I’m just a little jealous you got to take lessons. 🙂
One happy surprise was when I served katsudon on a bed of sweet rice and half my kids grabbed the chopsticks to eat with. I couldn’t have taught them that!
January 4, 2018 at 5:22 pm
Debbi Michiko Florence
You might be able to find taiko lessons! I would have taken more lessons but the drive one way is 2 hours. Alas! How great that you get to help keep the Japanese heritage alive for your kids!
January 4, 2018 at 2:48 pm
stephanieoplingerarts
I love mochi so much!! How fun, a story about Kochi, tradition, and breaking out of gender roles. Sounds too good to be true! I can’t wait to get a copy of the book. 😀
January 4, 2018 at 2:49 pm
Andrea Mack
Such an interesting book beginning story! Memories are a good place for finding ideas!
January 4, 2018 at 2:51 pm
Poupette Smith
The importance of exposing children to cultures outside their own cannot be overemphasized, plus mochi ice cream is soooooooo delicious. Congratulations on your series, which sounds interesting and fun, as finding a niche despite one’s mixed background must be a challenge.
January 4, 2018 at 2:51 pm
laura516
Each of us has a treasure trove of stories deep within our cultures and traditions. Thanks for helping us tap into them!
January 4, 2018 at 2:53 pm
Meena
What a great idea to tap into the global world! Thank you Debbie for sharing and guiding through your work.
January 4, 2018 at 2:54 pm
Gabi Snyder
Thank you, Debbi. This exercise stretched me in a good way. And I enjoyed reading about your series-writing process.
January 4, 2018 at 2:54 pm
vanessaroeder
What great inspiration! Gonna revisit my family traditions now.
January 4, 2018 at 2:56 pm
Brianna Zamborsky
This series sounds wonderful, Debbie! Congratulations. And I absolutely love this idea for story generation. Especially with the #ownvoices movement growing, it’s so important for people from underrepresented identities to find and tell their stories. But it helps me as well. I sometimes feel like I don’t have any interesting or new stories of my own to share since I come from mainstream American culture, but I’m sure I do and that this post will help me find them. Thanks!
January 4, 2018 at 5:20 pm
Debbi Michiko Florence
I’m positive you have interesting stories to share about your family traditions and history! 🙂
January 4, 2018 at 2:58 pm
shannonstocker
I love the idea of exploring traditions, whether they be ones you loved or ones that made you pull your hair out. Ultimately, books always seem to work best when we write about the things closest to our hearts. Thanks for your pearls of wisdom!
January 4, 2018 at 3:00 pm
mariagianferrari
Go Jasmine Toguchi!!! Congrats on all of your well-deserved success, Debbi. I love all of these stories, especially the one about the Daruma doll. And you’ve inspired an Italian story for me, today’s idea. Thanks for the tradition tip!! 🙂
January 4, 2018 at 3:01 pm
Lucretia Schafroth
Wow! What an inspiring post, Debbi! The way you turned one idea into four…that the protagonist is an empowered young girl who challenges family traditions/rules AND cultural norms in each… What a wonderful theme and example for young readers! Kudos to you–I’m so looking forward to reading these stories, learning more and applying the process to my French heritage.
January 4, 2018 at 3:03 pm
Manju B. Howard (@ManjuBeth)
Thanks for sharing how you tied your chapter book series together.
January 4, 2018 at 3:07 pm
danielle hammelef
I have a Daruma doll just like the one you showed, but alas, mine only has one eye colored in so far. I’m waiting for him to grant my book contract wish.
January 4, 2018 at 3:10 pm
Mary Worley
I didn’t realize it was a man’s job to pound the mochi. We do it the easy way with a mochi machine. Your post has me thinking about cultural traditions. I feel like so many of my family’s traditions are far removed from their origins now…
January 4, 2018 at 3:13 pm
Stephanie Ledyard
Thank you! This is inspiring and encouraging! We’ve got Jasmine Toguchi on our next library order.
January 4, 2018 at 3:15 pm
bamauthor
Lots of my books are based on memories of past travel and experiencing different cultures and traditions. I should sit down to jog my memory and add some more! Thanks for the tip.
January 4, 2018 at 3:18 pm
Lu Fiskin-Ross
Thank you for suggesting another way to come up with story ideas. Which literally just now gave me an idea for a story as I typed the first sentence! Thank you, thank you!
January 4, 2018 at 3:18 pm
Lynn Pedersen
Love these ideas!
January 4, 2018 at 3:24 pm
Mary Jane Muir
Great post about how your books came to be! Thank you for sharing this.
January 4, 2018 at 3:25 pm
Sandy
Thank you for your inspiration! I have an idea already!
January 4, 2018 at 3:27 pm
Lucky Jo Boscarino
So important to teach kids that gender roles are actually NOT as solid as they seem. So much here…
January 4, 2018 at 3:27 pm
mcdonaldrae
Debbi has shared from within…and I know that in me and each of us there are stories of our culture waiting to be told out loud and to spring into our current life and those around us.
January 4, 2018 at 3:32 pm
Traci Bold
Debbi, I go to the library and haunt the various magazines on display for story ideas. It’s a great way to spend a yukky outdoor day, indoors.
January 4, 2018 at 3:41 pm
Brooke Hollon
Debbi,
Thanks for the inside scoop on how you generated ideas for your series. I loved in Japan for a year with a Japanese family and treasure all the aspects of Japanese culture I experienced. I do know what Mochi tastes like!
Looking forward to reading this series!
January 4, 2018 at 3:42 pm
Brooke Hollon
Oops. Autocorrect gremlin got me! Meant to type that I lived in Japan.
January 4, 2018 at 3:49 pm
LeeAnn Rizzuti
I think you have given me an idea to explore, Debbi. Thank you.
January 4, 2018 at 3:50 pm
deniseaengle
Family traditions are rich with material! Must explore this idea! Thank you!!!
January 4, 2018 at 3:57 pm
Tiffany Nething
I really enjoyed this post. The series looks as fun and delightful as can be and the path to fruition inspiring : ) would love to own a few for my daughter!
January 4, 2018 at 4:02 pm
peg e. monley
Thanks for the generous prize Debbi. The idea of writing a chapter book seems overwhelming. Let alone having to come up with several more ideas for a series. Your explanation of the roots of your thinking has piqued my imagination. food for thought for sure. Thanks again!
January 4, 2018 at 4:03 pm
Lourdes Heuer (@LourdesHeuer)
I recently got a story idea thinking of this very thing!
January 4, 2018 at 4:13 pm
triciacandy
Wow! This is an awesome idea generator! Thank you!
January 4, 2018 at 4:15 pm
Maria Oka
I love this!! Thank you Debbi. We have and love both Jasmine Toguchi books. Can’t wait to get the last two! We even used Jasmine Toguchi Mochi Queen as our last book club book for our kids book club. The girls all loved it! And we even used your mochi recipe to make mochi. 😉 Thank you, I love this post and these books!
January 4, 2018 at 4:17 pm
Janet AlJunaidi
Thank you Debbi. I loved learning about these Japanese cultural traditions and how children are involved!
January 4, 2018 at 4:21 pm
denarose
Thanks so much, Debbi! I’m eager to read your books. Thanks for the inspiration–I’m going to start thinking about family and Irish American traditions and see if I can mine any ideas. Thanks!
January 4, 2018 at 4:33 pm
Catherine F
I always love to hear the inspirations behind stories. As a member of a multicultural family I’m now brainstorming ideas as to how I could include our experiences in a picture book. Thank you for a great post!
January 4, 2018 at 4:40 pm
Deb Smith
I love your ideas! And the fact we share the same name. I currently have a PB with editor that touches on a small part of Japanese culture. Seems we are a little similar 😊
January 4, 2018 at 4:43 pm
Carolyn
I love your idea of taking the plot and theme into consideration together when brainstorming new ideas within a series.
January 4, 2018 at 4:45 pm
Terry
What a wonderful way to explore a family’s traditions and culture. Great idea booster. And on a side note- My daughter loves Mochi! Now I want to learn to make it.
January 4, 2018 at 4:46 pm
Sara A
My school library needs to order these! I love how these blog posts have introduced me to titles I didn’t know before!
January 4, 2018 at 4:46 pm
Claire Wrenn Bobrow
I loved hearing about your inspiration, Debbi. Now to go get my hands on the Jasmine Toguchi series – looks great!
January 4, 2018 at 4:49 pm
nrompella
Great thing to think about. And I can’t wait to check out your books.
January 4, 2018 at 4:50 pm
Nadine
I am so happy to hear there are more Jasmin books. As a librarian, I am always looking for chapter books that illustrate different cultures, and with characters that kids enjoy reading with. Thank you!
January 4, 2018 at 4:51 pm
Cathy Ogren
Loved the post and how you came up with your ideas.
January 4, 2018 at 4:52 pm
authoraileenstewart
Love that your ideas turned into a beautiful way for you to share your culture :0)
January 4, 2018 at 4:58 pm
Anna Smith
Family traditions are a great source. It really got me thinking of some great ideas. Thank you for the great post.
January 4, 2018 at 4:58 pm
Nicole Turner
Thank you for sharing your process and your books. I would love to read these with my daughter. They sound fantastic!
January 4, 2018 at 5:01 pm
Sheri Radovich
Thank you for sharing with us the cultural tie in and how you came up with companion books to your first idea. It helps to know how to do this.
January 4, 2018 at 5:02 pm
Pat
Thank you! You are so right, family and cultural traditions are so special and worth writing about.
January 4, 2018 at 5:02 pm
Tracey Brown
Thank you sharing your journey, Debbi. Love that you said YES (despite not having more book ideas) and generated the other ideas for your series. Congratulations!
January 4, 2018 at 5:04 pm
Lyn Miller-Lachmann
Thank you for the interview! I often blog about family traditions, and one of those posts led to a book contract as well.
January 4, 2018 at 5:10 pm
Darlene Koppel
What a wonderful story. Thank you so much for sharing.
January 4, 2018 at 5:10 pm
Carleen M. Tjader
These ideas and Debbi’s series sound like an amazing combination! I must take a look at these books and look to my own family and traditions. Thanks!
January 4, 2018 at 5:11 pm
Stephen S. Martin
I love this and wonder why I never thought of it. Day 4 idea is a lock. Thsnk-you very much.
January 4, 2018 at 5:14 pm
angelamaba
I really like the idea of using your background and experiences to generate story ideas. Got a couple twirling around in my head now.
January 4, 2018 at 5:18 pm
Meli Glickman
The blending of lovely cultural themes with fun humor seems the ideal mix for Jasmine, and I love how the additional book ideas flowed in a natural way. Thanks for sharing!
January 4, 2018 at 5:18 pm
Jocelyn Nodge
I love your flamingos!
January 4, 2018 at 5:21 pm
Keila Dawson
Writing from one’s cultural experiences is fun. And generates lots of ideas. Your character sounds like a hoot! Congrats on the series book deal.
January 4, 2018 at 5:24 pm
annabrookswriter
My parents and I are first-generation Americans, and I’ve been struggling with ideas for how to translate some of my experience into books. I get bogged down in the complexity of the transition. But your essay was super helpful! I immediately got an idea based on a family tradition that seems small enough, yet important enough, to be the start of a story!
January 4, 2018 at 5:25 pm
Laura F Nielsen
Every family has different traditions, but nearly everyone is familiar with the feeling of trying to get comfortable and find one’s own place within these traditions.
January 4, 2018 at 5:25 pm
Shanah salter
I love this story creation idea and can’t wait to read your series! Thank you
January 4, 2018 at 5:26 pm
Kimberly Hutmacher
Thank you for sharing how the ideas for this series came to be. Your main character sounds amazing! 🙂
January 4, 2018 at 5:26 pm
Wendy
This one has me thinking . . .finding the unique among the mundane. Thank you, Debbi. 🙂
January 4, 2018 at 5:31 pm
sherilyncook
I never even thought about my culture for ideas to pull from. Thanks so much!
January 4, 2018 at 5:31 pm
Nina Johnson
Love this Debbi. I have several Daruma Dolls. I hope that eventually I will accomplish my wish. Thanks for the insight.
Nina
January 4, 2018 at 5:32 pm
Martin Segal
I loved hearing about your inspirations and traditions, Debbi! I’ve been trying to remember some of my childhood traditions since reading this, too! Congrats on your series!
January 4, 2018 at 5:34 pm
Aryn Kennedy
I will be seeking out these books to read to my daughter!
January 4, 2018 at 5:38 pm
laurelwoodkeeper
Thank you for sharing your journey, Debbi! This was really encouraging to me, especially today.
January 4, 2018 at 5:39 pm
Vasilia Graboski
Great idea! Thanks.
January 4, 2018 at 5:40 pm
DaNeil Olson
Family traditions – inspired! Thank you.
January 4, 2018 at 5:46 pm
Margaret Greanias
Loved hearing about your family traditions. Thanks for the idea of mining family traditions!
January 4, 2018 at 5:49 pm
Jen Fier Jasinski
I can’t wait to read these! Thanks for sharing!
January 4, 2018 at 5:49 pm
writingcygnet
What a great idea! I grew up in a camping family and have thought about turning some of those family experiences-as well as some of our crazy family traditions-into stores. But I’ve never gotten around to it. I think this post might just be the push I needed to finally do this! Thank you!
Susan Swan
January 4, 2018 at 5:50 pm
Angela Kunkel 📚 (@rahrahread)
Such a good suggestion! Combing through my childhood memories now . . .
January 4, 2018 at 5:52 pm
gael
My 6yo daughter and I just finished reading Mochi Queen last night! Excited to explore the rest of the series as Jasmine reminds me of my daughter in many ways! Thanks for sharing your story of inspiration! I’m first generation Asian-American and trying to find ways to connect with my heritage through my writing.
January 4, 2018 at 5:54 pm
Teresa Robeson
I LOVE hearing how these books came to be! I, too, often mine my own cultural traditions for ideas (though none have made their way into books yet). Thank you, Debbi!
January 4, 2018 at 5:57 pm
Jenna Woloshyn
I loved everything about this story.
January 4, 2018 at 6:01 pm
Leslie Santamaria
Congrats on the series, Debbi, and thanks for this idea sparker!
January 4, 2018 at 6:02 pm
Sarah Maynard (@SarahDMaynard)
I’m a few days behind and this is the first post I’ve read for Storystorm this year. What a way to kick it off for me! Loved this post! Thank you!!
January 4, 2018 at 6:04 pm
Emily Ann Davison
Thanks for sharing – it’s reminded me of an idea I had a week ago, but forgot! Fantastic post.
January 4, 2018 at 6:04 pm
Noelle McBride
I am fascinated with idea-origin stories! Thanks for sharing! I think this exercise would be even more powerful with someone with a very different childhood experience, as sometimes I don’t realize that one of my family traditions is story-worthy!
January 4, 2018 at 6:13 pm
Brenda Maier
How wonderful, Debbi! I love how you found personally meaningful universal themes–they’re relatable for all people.
January 4, 2018 at 6:27 pm
Judy VanSlyke
Congratulations Debbi…so exciting. Thank you for sharing how they came to be.
January 4, 2018 at 6:33 pm
Marcy P.
Debbie, I loved hearing your ideas for these books (and your lack of ideas when you agreed to a series!). Thanks for sharing. It really is inspirational!
January 4, 2018 at 6:36 pm
Stephan Stuecklin
A book with Hinamatsuri! Awesome! I’ll have to start digging—both in my memories and in the local traditions, which are largely unfamiliar and unknown to me. Thank you for the great idea!
January 4, 2018 at 6:39 pm
Allison Alley
This is such a great suggestion for generating ideas. Thanks for sharing it with us, Debbi. Your books look wonderful!!
January 4, 2018 at 6:40 pm
Janet Smart
Yes. I love putting family traditions, etc. into my stories! And, congratulations on your books!
January 4, 2018 at 6:40 pm
Cherilyn Jose
Thanks for the post and ideas! Although I am a 5th generation Chinese-American (and many traditions are lost), we still have immediate family traditions that others don’t and those might make a story!
January 4, 2018 at 6:43 pm
Marsha Owen
I am very interested in my Norwegian culture and would love to ponder the story possibilities there! Also, I would like to be able to color in the eye on a doll at the start and finish 🙂
January 4, 2018 at 6:46 pm
Tasha Hilderman
Wow Debbi I LOVE the covers and art for these stories, and all of the books seem so intriguing—I am not familiar with any of these traditions! I think they would be great books for my nine year old. I enjoyed how you didn’t let your lack of initial additional ideas prevent you from signing up for three more books!
January 4, 2018 at 6:51 pm
loriannlevyholm
Congratulations on your series! My favorite part was reading about your wish making while painting the daruma, a Japanese wishing doll!
January 4, 2018 at 6:52 pm
Alisha Gabriel
Wow, this post sparked quite a few ideas. I admit, I also enjoyed going down memory lane because of your post. Thanks for sharing!
January 4, 2018 at 6:53 pm
Katie Giorgio
Loved hearing how these came together…thanks for sharing!
January 4, 2018 at 6:57 pm
Kathy Mazurowski
Love your idea and the way you have made your background accessible to all cultures. There is something everyone can identify with. My background isn’t very I interesting, but I might be able to come up with another way to look at it. Thanks!
January 4, 2018 at 7:05 pm
Amber Webb
Oh my goodness! I was so excited to see that Debbi was the post today. Learning where the Jasmine stories came from were fantastic. I can’t wait to share the photos with my daughter who loves the Jasmine series!
January 4, 2018 at 7:07 pm
F. G. M. Kalavritinos
Debbi, thank you for sharing your brainstorming process. I grew up in two different cultural traditions. Thanks to your post, I’ll re-examine those traditions with new intentions.
January 4, 2018 at 7:11 pm
Cathy C. Hall
Hmmmm…traditions! Worth mulling over, I think! (And I love the cultural aspect woven into your books–putting ’em on my TBR list!)
January 4, 2018 at 7:17 pm
Kate Talbot
I LOVED this post. So inspiring to hear about your process. I instantly thought of an idea and I’m sure reflecting on my own family history will yield more ideas. Thank you.
January 4, 2018 at 7:20 pm
Emmie R Werner
Thank you for giving me an idea!!!!!
January 4, 2018 at 7:20 pm
sharonkdal
I recently visited Japan and brought back a daruma doll! He’s still sitting on my desk with one eye … hopefully this year I can colour it in. So glad your wish came true!
January 4, 2018 at 7:25 pm
Patricia Toht
I can’t wait to read Jasmine Toguchi, and love hearing about how the ideas came about.
January 4, 2018 at 7:31 pm
Brian Yanish
Wonderful prompts Debbi. Thank you! Exploring cultural traditions are a rich topic and of interest to kids. Congrats on Jasmine!
January 4, 2018 at 7:38 pm
Sharon Coffey
Debbi, thank you for sharing your journey.
January 4, 2018 at 7:39 pm
Rita D. Russell
Thanks for sharing details of your publishing journey, Debbi.
January 4, 2018 at 7:41 pm
Jacqueline Adams
I like your method–it works for finding ideas, and as a bonus I get to revisit some good memories I haven’t thought about in a while. Thanks!
January 4, 2018 at 7:42 pm
lorisherritt
Thank you Debbi. I come from a Celtic background of faery lore, leprechauns, banshees and tricksters to be afeard. This year, it is my intention to channel my ancestry, not only in a traditional way, but with modern characters like yours who meld past and present! I also now need to find a wishing doll to be the keeper of my most precious wish! Thank you for the rich stories!
January 4, 2018 at 7:56 pm
cravevsworld
Hi Debbi! My most treasured years were spent in the Japanese countryside of Aomori, and thus I have a deep appreciation for spreading Japan’s culture. It is such a pleasure these books! I too rocked a daruma on my first publication. Wishing you all the best!
January 4, 2018 at 8:06 pm
Joy Keller
Like so many others, I’m also fascinated by the wishing doll!
In my family, we have lots of odd traditions (not necessarily cultural) that I’ve never considered using in a book. Now I’ve got tons of ideas! Thanks!
January 4, 2018 at 8:11 pm
CeCeLibrarian
I read an ARC of Drummer Girl over the summer and thoroughly enjoyed it. Jasmine’s got heart and we have much to learn from her. These books also have activities/crafts in the back to give a try based on the story. The whole series will be added to my K-5 library. Thanks for the inspiration today Debbi.
January 4, 2018 at 8:13 pm
Kim Chaffee
Debbi, your books sound fabulous and I appreciate the advice to look to family traditions for story ideas!
January 4, 2018 at 8:15 pm
kristinscorner8
I loved hearing about this. It helped me come up with some new ideas!
January 4, 2018 at 8:17 pm
jennloop (Jennifer)
Oh I love this! I’d get the books to educate kids about Japanese culture and also for myself because I love Japan. X) It looks like the books have some really sound points to make about life too. I’m from Finland and I’m sure there’s all sorts of cultural things to take advantage of here, it’s just sometimes hard to see those things when you’re right in the middle of living it. Need to travel more, I suppose..
January 4, 2018 at 8:20 pm
Angie Isaacs
Thank you for sharing, Debbi!
January 4, 2018 at 8:20 pm
Christine M Irvin
Thanks for the great ideas.
January 4, 2018 at 8:25 pm
Maria J Cuesta
I love this post. I need to Think about traditions around me. That Is a big field to be explored. Thank you!
January 4, 2018 at 8:34 pm
Andrew Lefebvre
Thanks so much. The series looks great. Can’t wait to read it!
January 4, 2018 at 8:34 pm
mona861
Debbi, Thanks for being part of Storystorm and sharing your journey with Jasmine Toguchi.
January 4, 2018 at 8:41 pm
Juliana Lee
Congratulations on your four book deal Debbi! Family history is seeped in stories!
January 4, 2018 at 8:44 pm
Bruce
Sounds like fun stories. Congrats on the books deal.
January 4, 2018 at 8:44 pm
Susan Latta
Traditions are so important, thanks for sharing your ideas!
January 4, 2018 at 8:50 pm
Cathy Breisacher
Wow! Your post is fascinating. And I love how you were offered the chance to write the series and you had faith that you’d be able to generate the ideas. I am very intrigued and I can’t wait to read these!
January 4, 2018 at 8:51 pm
paulajbecker
Wow! That’s great publishing story, Debbi! How wonderful to write a book series so personal to you. Thank you for sharing and for the thought to mine our own cultural traditions.
January 4, 2018 at 9:00 pm
Megan Whitaker
Oh my gosh! What great timing! One of my best friends made mochi over the holiday with her family and friends. She is first generation Japanese-American and has an eight year old daughter. So excited to tell her about your book! I have such great college memories of visiting her house in Salt Lake and getting dressed up in a kimono by her mom. Love this.
January 4, 2018 at 9:05 pm
Gayle Veitenheimer
Wow! I love the cultural angle and your creativity in exploring traditional roles and expectations. I love it!
January 4, 2018 at 9:08 pm
Mary Warth
Great suggestions to look to cultural/ family traditions Debbi. Your story themes are so interesting! Congrats on the series.
January 4, 2018 at 9:17 pm
wpdrey
Awesome, thanks and thanks for cheering us on! I’m cheering you on as well and your wonderful books.
January 4, 2018 at 9:21 pm
Jennifer Broedel (@JBroedelAuthor)
My children are always asking me to share stories of my childhood, and with the holidays recently passed, I have the PERFECT idea that centers on family tradition. Thanks for the writing prompt!
January 4, 2018 at 9:24 pm
Jen Bailey
Thank you Debbi! I like how you figured out what worked for you the first time around to spur on new ideas in the series.
January 4, 2018 at 9:26 pm
Natasha Garnett
Thanks, Debbi, for your Storystorm Day 4 post and congratulations on your Jasmine T. books. I’m amazed at how quickly you came up with the three other stories. How wonderful your editor envisioned a series or maybe you wouldn’t have known Jasmine’s other stories were waiting to be told.
January 4, 2018 at 9:32 pm
Alexia Andoni
Thank you, Debbi for this wonderful post and congratulations on the Jasmine series. They look fabulous! I loved reading about how you came up with the ideas. Thanks for sharing!
January 4, 2018 at 9:33 pm
betlw
Thanks, Debbi, for your wonderful ideas of writing about your cultural heritage. Not only did you get your book published, but you also got asked to come up with more books. Terrific! Now I’ll have to research my own heritage to see if there are any stories there.
January 4, 2018 at 9:42 pm
Laurie L Young
Love these brilliant books!
January 4, 2018 at 9:46 pm
poppywrote
Can’t wait to read Debi’s books (and especially the one with the drummer when it comes out)
January 4, 2018 at 9:57 pm
Zainab Khan
Thank you Debi for the idea generator. I love how you brought out the Japanese culture in your stories.
January 4, 2018 at 9:59 pm
Michelle Kogan Art, Illustration, & Writing
What wonderful additional book ideas that grew out of your original story Debbie, by following your thread of traditions and customs. Thanks for sharing how you got there!
And thanks Tara, for this rich post with Debbie!
January 4, 2018 at 10:06 pm
Holly Sigismondi
I love hearing how you came up with your ideas. Thanks for sharing!
January 4, 2018 at 10:09 pm
anitajjones
I love your ideas Debbi! I also love cultural and traditional things…so I’ll be thinking a lot about some ideas in this direction! Thanks!!
January 4, 2018 at 10:16 pm
Beth Stilborn
Thank you for this, Debbi. In the amazing way that the universe works sometimes, before I read this post I’d already come up with ways to use stories from my family heritage for two of my ideas today. I love the way that your post affirmed that. And now I must read your books!
January 4, 2018 at 10:23 pm
Stephanie
Such a lovely story about your stories. Thanks for sharing.
January 4, 2018 at 10:24 pm
Buffy Silverman
Great idea to mine family and culture for story ideas–thanks for this post!
January 4, 2018 at 10:34 pm
familystufftodo
What a perfect example of write what you know. Great ideas for this series.
January 4, 2018 at 10:37 pm
Lynn A. Davidson
Debbi, I enjoyed reading your background story for MOCHI QUEEN and how it immediately turned into a series. Congratulations! I’d love to read your books, and will look for them.
January 4, 2018 at 10:40 pm
tiemdow
Great books! Congratulations!!
January 4, 2018 at 10:44 pm
Rene` Diane Aube
What a great idea to delve into family traditions *loved and not-so loved* Never thought of that angle! Thank you, Debbi and Tara! Happy storming!! 🙂
January 4, 2018 at 10:47 pm
Christine Fleming McIsaac
I love this look into how you came up with the ideas for these stories! And they seem like wonderful books to put on our reading list. Thanks for this inspirational post! I have two ideas from it thinking about my family’s heritage. Thanks again!
January 4, 2018 at 10:47 pm
Elizabeth Brown
I loved your post so much! Wonderful ideas and great books!
January 4, 2018 at 10:58 pm
Mindy Alyse Weiss
I love hearing how you came up with the original idea for Jasmine’s story…and the rest of the books in her series. Huge congrats on Jasmine’s success, Debbie!
Thanks so much for your inspiring post. I’m off to see what ideas spring from my cultural and family traditions.
January 4, 2018 at 11:04 pm
Cheryl Malandrinos
I never really thought of this way to generate ideas. Love how you turned them into a series. Keep up the great work.
January 4, 2018 at 11:06 pm
Ann Cronin Romano
Thanks for sharing how you thought up more ideas for your “stand-alone” chapter book! And congrats on the success!
January 4, 2018 at 11:08 pm
teresa.mi.schaefer
I look forward to reading your books. Culture is rich with writing opportunity. Thanks for the nudge to examine my own.
January 4, 2018 at 11:10 pm
Lori J Laniewski
Thank you for the inspiration.
January 4, 2018 at 11:14 pm
Sue
Great Post, Debbi. I love hearing the story behind the story — especially when you had to come up with sequels. Thanks for sharing!
January 4, 2018 at 11:15 pm
Angie
Fabulous! Now I want to make mochi! Thank you for the ideas!
January 4, 2018 at 11:20 pm
Faith
Wonderful post – thanks for the inspiration to look at cultural traditions 🙂
January 4, 2018 at 11:22 pm
Rona Shirdan
Thank you for sharing this with us!
January 4, 2018 at 11:23 pm
artzpam
Thank you for reminding me of this. There is a childhood memory that I’ve wanted to work on for a long time. Today is the perfect day for that. Does that count as a new story idea?
January 5, 2018 at 9:46 am
Debbi Michiko Florence
Yes, that counts! 🙂
January 4, 2018 at 11:24 pm
Peter
Very cool! My hometown, Milwaukee, hosts various festivals all summer long, many of which are centered on different cultures. Every time I attend, the music, art, dress, and overall feel definitely provides plenty of inspiration.
January 4, 2018 at 11:26 pm
curryelizabeth
Oh my goodness-great ideas and wonderful tips! Thank you for a great and inspiring post. And congratulations!
January 4, 2018 at 11:32 pm
slowsly
Thank you for sharing how you come up with your ideas. I look forward to reading your books.
January 4, 2018 at 11:36 pm
Robin Bailey
What beautiful stories from your memories and culture. Thank you for sharing!
January 4, 2018 at 11:41 pm
ellenleventhal
Thank you! Just reading this sparked some ideas of my own. Love this!
January 4, 2018 at 11:47 pm
Trine Grillo
I like this fresh approach to idea finding, Debbi! Thanks for sharing.
January 4, 2018 at 11:47 pm
Jenifer McNamara
Interesting post! Enjoyed how you expanded your knowledge into ideas which became books.
January 4, 2018 at 11:48 pm
rgstones
Can’t wait to read these books! 🙂
January 5, 2018 at 12:10 am
Alexandra Hinrichs
I am so excited to read Jasmine’s stories! I already love her character just based on the snippets you have given us! I like this idea of diving into family traditions. Thank you for the spark.
January 5, 2018 at 12:11 am
kimgjolly
Love love love it!
January 5, 2018 at 12:12 am
susanbruck
Although I often avoid writing about my own Jewish background, it was such a large part of my growing up that I have just started exploring creating stories from it. Thanks for sharing your story–it’s very inspiring. And congratulations!!
January 5, 2018 at 12:18 am
Sue Schnitzer
Thanks for writing this. I think about my culture and discuss it with people but somehow it never dawned on me that I could use some of those thoughts and discussions as jumping off points for writing.
January 5, 2018 at 12:29 am
Kristen Browning
Great post! So fun to read how your stories developed. I need to get these books for my daughter. I think I need to get some of those wishing dolls, too!
January 5, 2018 at 12:33 am
mlflannigan
Thank you for sharing!
January 5, 2018 at 12:37 am
Rani Iyer
Thank you! This post is inspiring me to look into my own culture.
January 5, 2018 at 12:41 am
Debbie Day (@debbiedayauthor)
What awesome traditions your family has! Thank you for your post and for the inspiration!
January 5, 2018 at 12:42 am
Kimberly Ragland
I enjoyed this blog post immensely! SO fun to learn about other cultures through engaging characters like Jasmine! I hope I win your books in the drawing, but I will be reading them no matter how I get them into my hands! ha!
January 5, 2018 at 12:45 am
ingridboydston
What fun “stories behind the stories”! Thanks for sharing them and asking such idea prompting questions!
January 5, 2018 at 12:47 am
Jennifer Hunt
What an awesome success story! I love hearing how you then came up with ideas for 3 more books. I wonder what classes or lessons I can take in the name of research. What fun!
January 5, 2018 at 1:11 am
Amanda Herron
Even if I don’t win, these are on my reading list now. I love the ideas! These are the kind of stories I would have been obsessed with as a kid. Thank you for breaking down the approach you used to create the series. That thematic/big picture break down was really helpful for me.
January 5, 2018 at 1:27 am
Michelle Sumovich
I’m so excited to read these, Debbi!
January 5, 2018 at 1:37 am
megcason1
I always love to hear an authors inspiration stories!
Thank you!!
January 5, 2018 at 1:43 am
Natalie Lynn Tanner
Debbi
THANK YOU for sharing your inspiration! I also find much of mine through tradition and family stories. Those ROOTS sure can bring forth a rich harvest!
January 5, 2018 at 1:45 am
Natalie Lynn Tanner
I also find much of mine through tradition and family stories. Those ROOTS sure can bring forth a rich harvest!
January 5, 2018 at 1:53 am
Inda Ahmad Zabri
I loved your article Debbi, family and culture is a great place from which to draw a wealth of ideas. I also loved that Jasmine wanted a pet flamingo – my daughter is obsessed with them at the moment, too, she just can’t get enough! In fact a pet flamingo was what I drew in a recent illustration challenge 🙂
January 5, 2018 at 2:05 am
deborahholtwilliams
Today’s my first day back home since Dec. 18th, so much to catch up on, no new ideas. Read your post just before bed, and got to thinking about family stories. Bingo! An idea popped up! Thanks, Debbi!
January 5, 2018 at 2:19 am
Emily Wayne (@emilywayneart)
Lovely post!
January 5, 2018 at 2:22 am
Suzanne Poulter Harris
This sounds like such a fun series. I love learning about other cultures. Congratulations, Debbi!
January 5, 2018 at 2:27 am
Darshana
Wonderful post Debbi. Glad you got to fill-in the other eye. 🙂
January 5, 2018 at 2:40 am
Jill Giesbrecht
Your stories sound so fun! I have a neighbour who is really into taiko drumming, I bet she’d love your new story! Thanks for the inspiration.
January 5, 2018 at 3:59 am
emilyco
Great post! A lot of my book ideas are based on the cultures I belong to! 🙂
January 5, 2018 at 4:03 am
Maria Marshall
Debbi, what a great series and a wonderful way to draw inspiration. Thank you for sharing this post. I look forward to reading your newest one. Best of Luck in 2018.
January 5, 2018 at 5:35 am
Mirka Hokkanen
That was an interesting viewpoint, and one that I never thought of, even though I come from a different country than where my kids are growing up.
January 5, 2018 at 5:45 am
Artelle Lenthall
Amazing! To have the confidence to say you had other ideas. Wow! To be able to dissect your story to find what made it both original and reproducible and then to write not only two but three more. Impressive, thanks for the inspiration. Now to delve into my rather mixed watered down culture. Research may be necessary, hmm what have I always wanted to do?
January 5, 2018 at 6:02 am
sharongiltrow
Thank you Debbi I love Japanese culture and I learnt so much just from reading your post.
January 5, 2018 at 6:55 am
Ashley Franklin
As an African-American, growing up, I didn’t feel like I had much of a culture when compared to others. I’m glad that the older we get, the more we learn. I’m having a grand time proving myself wrong and think digging into our own cultures can be a phenomenal way to get some of our best ideas. Great post!
January 5, 2018 at 7:42 am
hdening
Fantastic idea, Debbi, and it’s a great way to keep family traditions and cultures alive. Thank you.
January 5, 2018 at 7:52 am
Linda Hofke
Customs & traditions… I thought about that for a while and came up with ZERO ideas. But then my thoughts strayed a bit further and I thought about my childhood. When it was time for bed I didn’t get a bedtime story. Instead my father created another bedtime ritual. BINGO! I have my story idea for today. Thank you. 🙂
Your Jasmine character sounds a bit like my daughter. And I love learning about different cultures. I can’t wait to read the books.
January 5, 2018 at 8:23 am
Jan Hoffman
This makes me wish to hear more family stories! All grandparents, parents, aunts and uncles had a mischievous side, a twinkle in their eye. I wonder what family traditions and legends there are to capture, ones universal and others unique and causing others to wonder their own what if. ❤️
January 5, 2018 at 8:52 am
Diana Murrell
I love the modern take on family traditions. I teach in a very diverse school and see the importance of finding books kids can connect with: windows and mirrors.
January 5, 2018 at 8:54 am
helenrj
Ah, that wishing doll. I want one! Thank you for such lovely words of encouragement.
January 5, 2018 at 9:26 am
@luvthatword
Heading to the library today to check out your books. Love the combo of modern and traditional, with cultural heritage informing the story.
January 5, 2018 at 9:38 am
Deborah Allmand
Loved this idea because every family has traditions and some are just handed down for generations.
Some are not about holidays or celebrations, but all in all still traditions. Thanks for the post.
January 5, 2018 at 9:53 am
Daryl Gottier
I’m looking at family traditions with new eyes…and pen in hand. Thanks!
January 5, 2018 at 10:18 am
Susan Schade
Thank you for sharing your story behind the stories. I can’t wait to read your books!
January 5, 2018 at 10:40 am
sadeeschilling
Love this idea! And I’m looking forward to meeting Jasmine in your books!
January 5, 2018 at 10:43 am
Kathy Sholtys
Her spunkiness is infectious! Congratulations!
January 5, 2018 at 11:02 am
Pat Miller
Delighted to see a series that incorporates Japanese culture and a strong-willed Jasmine. We were stationed in Japan and I have very fond memories of our life there–including Girls’ Day.
January 5, 2018 at 11:21 am
CindyC
Thanks! I loved the way you shared family traditions in a way that kids today could relate.
January 5, 2018 at 11:22 am
Karen Lawler
I travel a lot but I always have a tough time creating stories about the children in these countries. You have inspired me and I will try harder. Thank you 🙂
January 5, 2018 at 11:28 am
tanjabauerle
A treasure trove of inspiration can be found in one’s heritage and family traditions. Thank you for that push. T
January 5, 2018 at 11:32 am
Kirsten Bock
This series sounds fantastic. Can’t wait to read it to my kids!
January 5, 2018 at 11:52 am
Lori Alexander
This series looks fabulous, Debbi. Congrats on your wish come true!
January 5, 2018 at 11:57 am
Gayle Taylor Davis
My husband was part Japanese. After his death my youngest daughter ( an artist) went to Japan for a month to learn more about her heritage. Her older sister joined her for a week. Your blog reminded me of this and kindled the idea of culture as a theme. Thank you.
January 5, 2018 at 12:02 pm
Heather Kelso
Thank you for your inspirational story. Congratulations on your books!
January 5, 2018 at 12:34 pm
Darcee Freier
Congrats on your series! I’m excited to read it, and to see if I find a story from my family’s traditions. Great idea! Thanks!
January 5, 2018 at 1:30 pm
JenFW
Those are fun ideas, Debbi. Cheers to you!
January 5, 2018 at 2:03 pm
Joanne Sher
Got at least two ideas from this post. Thanks SO much, Debbi!
January 5, 2018 at 2:23 pm
Ginger Meurer
I’m so thankful your editor asked for more. Jasmine clearly had more to say, and so do you. I’m excited to see what you come up with next.
January 5, 2018 at 2:41 pm
Jill Tadros
My husband has loads of great cultural traditions for me to sort through. I mostly do it for my children to learn, but what ideas it could generate for writing is an exciting prospect!
January 5, 2018 at 2:52 pm
Cindi Handley Goodeaux
I did not grow up with many cultural traditions. We lived in the country with farms and animals, so I could look at that culture. I can also look at my hubby’s since I have learned so much about his through the years that I find fascinating!
January 5, 2018 at 3:13 pm
Viviane Elbee
This is fantastic! I am going to add all these books to my reading wish list. Thank you for sharing how you quickly found inspiration to write 3 new books!, Debbi.
January 5, 2018 at 3:17 pm
Mary Zychowicz
I love this! What a nice way to share cultural customs and bring a modern day light to them. This opens up a lot of ideas. Thank you for sharing. Your books look wonderful. They are on my reading list!
January 5, 2018 at 3:29 pm
Debbie Mickelson
Thanks for sharing your journey!
January 5, 2018 at 3:50 pm
Estrellina Pacis
Can’t wait to read this series to my baby girl! Thanks for the inspiration!
January 5, 2018 at 3:51 pm
Jeanine Fondacaro Brown
Excellent idea starter! I am filled with so many memories of traditions I love. Thank you from the bottom of my shiny easter shoes!
January 5, 2018 at 4:12 pm
Kathy Cornell Berman
I loved hearing what sparked your ideas for your chapter books. Looking forward to reading them! Thank you.
January 5, 2018 at 4:36 pm
Kaye Baillie
I’d never thought of using traditions as a story starter. Probably because we didn’t have many but I’m going to enjoy trying to remember.
January 5, 2018 at 4:40 pm
Debbie Meyer
I loved reading how you came up with your series. Makes my brain bubble with my own ideas. 🙂 Also, good for you to say YES! to a series when you had only thought of one story. I made a mental note to do the same instead of my first thought of Uh no. haha
January 5, 2018 at 4:48 pm
viviankirkfield
Playing catch up – but only one day behind! First of all, CONGRATULATIONS, Debbi! The book series sounds amazing…and how wonderful you got to color in the other eye. We dream it…then we set out to do it!
Your advice to look at family traditions will definitely spark some story ideas.
January 5, 2018 at 4:55 pm
Dayne Sislen, Children's Book Illustrator
Thank you for sharing your publishing journey. Love your books.
January 5, 2018 at 6:02 pm
Shari Della Penna
Thank you. I’ll mine my own history!
January 5, 2018 at 6:18 pm
Amy Murrell
These books look fabulous! I can’t wait to check them out. Also, I wrote one book, secretly hoping it could be a series. Then, when it got accepted, and I got asked if I could turn it in to a series, my mind went completely blank! This post is very helpful. I think I have some ideas now. Thanks and congratulations to you!
January 5, 2018 at 6:23 pm
Alessandra Doyle
Oh yay! I’ve been itching to delve into the treasure trove of culture from both my parents’ childhoods. Multicultural and expat- so much to explore! Now I have an excuse to go deeper.
January 5, 2018 at 6:33 pm
Stacey Corrigan
Hmmm. Got some digging to do. Thanks.
January 5, 2018 at 6:46 pm
Lisa L. Owens (@LisaLOwens)
Love the idea-generation tip and the story behind these books!
January 5, 2018 at 7:32 pm
Jim Chaize
I will definitely consider my history and culture for story ideas. Thanks, Debbi.
January 5, 2018 at 8:32 pm
Earl @ The Chronicles Of A Children's Book Writer
I can’t wait to see this series be read by more and more people. Appreciated the backstories of each book.
January 5, 2018 at 8:43 pm
sherry alexander
Thank you for the tip, I now have 2 more picture book ideas from family history.
January 5, 2018 at 9:01 pm
jeanjames926
This post was so enjoyable to read, I didn’t want it to end. Those cultural traditions were fascinating, but my favorite was the Daruma…wow! So happy your wish was fulfilled!
January 5, 2018 at 10:51 pm
Diane Tulloch
What interesting way of gaining idea for stories and your series is adorable. Hubby and I visited Japan many, many years ago and loved it. Thanks for sharing your story.
January 5, 2018 at 11:10 pm
Cassie Bentley
I’ve done some genealogy. Got dates and names. Now I need stories and traditions. We had some characters so that won’t be a problem.
January 5, 2018 at 11:23 pm
Meghan Burch
Yes! Thanks for your post. Going to break out the shoebox of photos from the 80’s. Lots to mine there!
January 5, 2018 at 11:28 pm
saritarich
I love this idea! Your books look beautiful and inspiring. Thank you for sharing!
January 5, 2018 at 11:38 pm
writersideup
I love this line of cultural/heritage/tradition-type thinking, Debbi. Thank you! 😀
January 5, 2018 at 11:46 pm
Jane Jeffries
Thank you, Debbi!
January 6, 2018 at 2:18 am
Marge Gower
What a wonderful way to find your heritage. I’ve often longed to know more about my Hungarian heritage. My grandparent’s wouldn’t tell us anything because of the stigma of being immigrants. I was proud of both my grandparents. I’m going to see what I can do with this. 🙂
January 6, 2018 at 10:26 am
Heather Elizabeth
Thank you for suggesting this direction, so much to discover!
January 6, 2018 at 11:00 am
Maritza M. Mejia
Excellent ideas! Thank you for sharing.
January 6, 2018 at 11:11 am
Author Yvona Fast
Thank you for showing how your heritage gave you story ideas!
January 6, 2018 at 11:41 am
Kirsten W. Larson
I always thought writing a chapter book series must be so difficult, but these brainstorming tips are fantastic. Thank you!
January 6, 2018 at 12:47 pm
Cheryl Bommarito Klein
I loved hearing how you found inspiration for your stories. Thank you for sharing that journey and congratulations on your series!
January 6, 2018 at 12:55 pm
Susan Cabael
Your post immediately helped me bridge a lingering idea I’ve had about traditional culture into a viable story possibility.
January 6, 2018 at 2:02 pm
Elizabeth Metz
This is such valuable insight, Debbi! My two personal takeaways:
1. “Fake it ’til you make it” is real.
2. Digging deep into why a particular manuscript I’ve written is working can lead to a whole new trove of ideas.
Now I need to go read Jasmine Toguchi!
January 6, 2018 at 2:04 pm
JC Davis
I love the cultural aspects that inspired and fill each book. I can’t wait to read the series!
January 6, 2018 at 3:05 pm
Nancy Vona
Thank you! Your post inspired me to think creatively about my own heritage, my husband’s family traditions, and what I want our children to know and cherish about family.
January 6, 2018 at 3:18 pm
jhkmomx4
I want these books to add to my Japanese unit for my students! Love that the protagonist is a girl with her own ideas and fortitude!
January 6, 2018 at 3:31 pm
Lynn Alpert
I love learning about traditions from all cultures – thank you.
January 6, 2018 at 3:37 pm
annettepimentel
That takes guts to tell your editor you have ideas when you don’t…yet! I hope I would be as confident of myself.
January 6, 2018 at 3:40 pm
Monica Chessmore
As a hard-core list maker, I love the idea of making lists of traditions, stories, and cultures. Thanks for ideas Debbi!
January 6, 2018 at 6:53 pm
Guyla Greenly
Thank you for sharing your process. Very helpful.
January 6, 2018 at 7:23 pm
Therese Kay
Great ideas! Finally coloring in that second eye must have felt amazing!!
January 6, 2018 at 7:29 pm
Kathy O'Neill
Great ideas. I appreciate your sharing them!
January 6, 2018 at 8:17 pm
Brenda Harris
What wonderful memories of special Japanese traditions. In 2018 I will have a Chinese granddaughter. Oh, there is so much to learn about their cultural traditions. It’s truly a small world. 🙂
January 6, 2018 at 9:06 pm
Stephanie Lau
I have a strong and sudden urge to go make mochi…
January 6, 2018 at 9:16 pm
Jen Kraar
Now whenever I heap mochi on my frozen yogurt I will think of you and Jasmine Toguchi. (I expect the sticky rice may be somewhat different than the confectionary one.) I like your idea of exploring one’s culture. Thanks.
January 6, 2018 at 9:19 pm
Zoe Alicia Gaetjens
Thank you for sharing your process. Love the look and description of your books.
January 6, 2018 at 9:55 pm
Angela Turner
This post really has me thinking about my family past and present. Hopefully some ideas will grow.
January 7, 2018 at 12:10 am
Zoraida Rivera Morales
I have a date with myself to sit and reflect on traditions. I see you even take advantage of the comments to give us more ideas! Thank you, Debbie.
Ëxitos!
January 7, 2018 at 1:28 am
wendymyersart
Love the book covers, she looks like a wonderful character. Thanks for the idea generating help Debbi!
January 7, 2018 at 1:56 am
Meghan Daniels
Such a good idea!
January 7, 2018 at 2:18 am
Carolyn Currier
Thank you for this post. I have had story ideas influenced by culture but hadn’t thought to include it so integrally to a plot!
January 7, 2018 at 3:14 am
Sharon Mayhew
Congratulations on the four book deal! That’s super exciting!
January 7, 2018 at 10:55 am
Ink Bottle Studio
I love hearing the background to your ideas! Thanks for sharing!
January 7, 2018 at 2:11 pm
Judy Sobanski
Congratulations on your successful book series! Researching family traditions is a great way to find story ideas!
January 7, 2018 at 3:38 pm
Anne Iverson
Congratulations on your book deal and creating a strong character that challenges! I appreciate you taking us on a journey as your story ideas developed.
January 7, 2018 at 4:00 pm
Sharalyn Edgeberg
I enjoyed your post. Great ideas. You do have a strong character with great plot ideas. Congratulations.
January 7, 2018 at 4:20 pm
singebinge
Amazing article, amazing book. Thanks for sharing how you did it!
January 7, 2018 at 4:28 pm
Laurel Abell
I’ve been working on a cultural story based on my heritage that I learned about through my mom. We have SO MANY cool traditions!
January 7, 2018 at 5:20 pm
Kathy Manchip
Your books sound wonderful, plus I love the idea of incorporating our own childhoods and cultures–thank you for a great post!
January 7, 2018 at 5:53 pm
Elizabeth Tracy
Thank you for sharing this. The Jasmine Toguchi books sound like so much fun. I can’t wait to check them out. I have been trying to think of traditions related to my (Swiss) heritage, and most of them involve food of course!
January 7, 2018 at 6:37 pm
Peta-Ann Smith
Thank you, Debbi, and congratulations on your book!
January 7, 2018 at 7:04 pm
Prairie Garden Girl
Thank you, Debbi, for sharing an inspiring post. Time to revisit an idea about a character who celebrates St. Lucia Day.
Suzy Leopold
January 7, 2018 at 8:12 pm
Melissa Stoller
Thanks, Debbi! I love thinking about family histories and traditions as ideas and backdrop for stories! Congratulations on your fabulous series.
January 7, 2018 at 8:39 pm
Michelle Cusolito
I love this, Debbi! 🙂
January 7, 2018 at 9:36 pm
Shaye Wardrop
This gives me so much to think about. Thank you thank you. P.s. Your books sound fabulous!
January 8, 2018 at 3:03 am
Carrie Tillotson
Debbi, your chapter books look great! Thanks for the idea of mining our own traditions.
January 8, 2018 at 3:29 am
Cindy E. Owens
I loved your story about how your success came about. Thanks for sharing your culture and traditions with us.
Your suggestion for coming up with ideas, is a great way to do so.
January 8, 2018 at 8:43 am
natalie15
This was so inspiring! Thank you!
January 8, 2018 at 10:51 am
A. P. Alessandri
This was so fun and such a wealth of inspiration. Thank you!!
January 8, 2018 at 11:24 am
Delfina Salimbene
What a wonderful suggestion for generating ideas, Debbi! So glad you were able to color in the other eye of your wishing doll–and can’t wait to read all about Jasmine Toguchi’s adventures. They sound delightful!
January 8, 2018 at 11:29 am
Damon Dean, SevenAcreSky
Like a family tree, those ideas can branch out into unlimited ideas. Thanks for the great inspiration Debbi!
January 8, 2018 at 12:40 pm
donnacangelosi
I love this post, Debi! What a wonderful idea to list family/cultural traditions for story ideas! Thank you!
January 8, 2018 at 12:44 pm
Helen Lysicatos
Really loved your post and appreciate the idea generating suggestion.
January 8, 2018 at 1:03 pm
Angela De Groot
Great tip: cultural thread coupled with bigger theme. Makes brainstorming more fruitful
January 8, 2018 at 2:36 pm
Elizabeth W Saba
Thank you for the reminder. Traditions are a great source of inspiration. Looking forward to your books.
January 8, 2018 at 2:56 pm
Carrie Finison
I loved hearing about how you expanded your first idea into three more – nicely done!
January 8, 2018 at 3:26 pm
Jennifer Ali
Congratulations on your books!
January 8, 2018 at 5:27 pm
Megan Walvoord (@mjwalvoord2)
Excellent ideas. There are several interesting traditions for me to think about.
January 8, 2018 at 6:01 pm
Paula Puckett
Looking at memories of traditions or not-so-favorite family dynamics will open up a door to a current wip in which one of the characters has…um….”unresolved issues” that are an important part of her story. Thanks for the suggestion.
January 8, 2018 at 7:20 pm
Melanie Ellsworth
Debbi – I have a spunky 8-year-old of my own who will love reading about Jasmine Toguchi’s adventures. It was inspiring to hear how you generated ideas for this series!
January 8, 2018 at 8:25 pm
laurazarrin
Great post! Thank you! Now I have to go research mochi making. I love them but never even wondered how they were made.
January 8, 2018 at 10:57 pm
Kelly
I’m looking forward to reading your books!
January 9, 2018 at 12:45 am
Terri Sabol
Thank you, Debbi. Incorporating family traditions into a fictional story is a fun way to pass it on.
January 9, 2018 at 1:02 am
kmajor2013
Great post, Debbie! I have a diverse background so ideas should be plentiful. I also hail from CT.
January 9, 2018 at 4:02 am
Marge Gower
I have a cultural story that I’m going to fix. Like I said before, I don’t know much about my Hungarian background, but I have a Christmas story to rework. Thanks.
January 9, 2018 at 8:57 am
CoffeeWriteBooks
I’ve never thought of using traditions! Good idea!
January 9, 2018 at 1:07 pm
Susan Zonca
Looking to heritage is something I haven’t explored…yet. Thanks for sharing your journey.
January 9, 2018 at 2:37 pm
Kelly Vavala
Great Post!! Thank you for sharing your ideas on how to obtain ideas!!
January 9, 2018 at 3:59 pm
Mary Jo Wagner
I would love a Japanese wishing doll.
January 9, 2018 at 4:33 pm
L. Michelle Quraishi
Your books look perfect for my daughter! I love how you analyzed the driving themes/elements of your own work to come up with ideas for continuing the series.
January 9, 2018 at 9:37 pm
Diana Calio
Thanks, Debbi! Your post was so fun and it brought me back to when I was a little girl in my great-grandmother’s kitchen, helping her prepare the basket for the “Great Feast” of Russian Easter. ❤ Looking forward to reading your books. Best wishes!
January 9, 2018 at 10:26 pm
Sheri Dillard
I loved reading how you came up with your book ideas. Thanks for sharing!
January 9, 2018 at 11:48 pm
Carrie Charley Brown
Thanks for sharing your experience and idea generating idea, Debbi!
January 10, 2018 at 12:17 am
Sandi Lawson
You’re books sound really interesting and fun. Thanks for sharing.
January 10, 2018 at 1:12 pm
ptnozell
Thanks, Debbi, for sharing how you generated the ideas for your chapter book series.
January 10, 2018 at 2:29 pm
candicemarleyconner
Thank you for sharing this, Debbi, your stories sound amazing! I enjoyed reading how you connected the dots on your plot points and steeped them in tradition!
January 10, 2018 at 3:19 pm
Geralyn Underwood
This is so fun reading about how you came up with the follow up ideas, thank you for sharing a great idea generating tip!
January 10, 2018 at 6:47 pm
Sylvia Mary Grech
Thanks for sharing your ideas Debbi! So fun.
January 10, 2018 at 7:20 pm
Bethany Roberts
Interesting to read how you brainstormed for a series. Thanks for sharing!
January 10, 2018 at 9:15 pm
Susan Tuggy
I really enjoy a cultural theme as a layer of my story. Thanks, Debbi!
January 10, 2018 at 10:19 pm
Steve Schwartz
I loved the story of how your series came about. Congrats and thanks!
January 11, 2018 at 5:28 am
Leila Nabih
I might go and check out my Egyptian heritage for this idea! Thanks for sharing!
January 11, 2018 at 11:45 am
Heather Hatch
Either your covers or your enthusiasm – or both, brings smiles. I used to wish we had such a girls day and I had such a collection.
January 11, 2018 at 8:10 pm
Elizabeth McBride
Thank you for the great ideas!
January 11, 2018 at 9:29 pm
Heather
Thanks for sharing how you thought about creating your chapter book series! I thought Mochi Queen was terrific!
January 11, 2018 at 10:42 pm
Sara Gentry
Your books look so delightful that I just requested Mochi Queen from the library. Thank you for sharing your inspiration!
January 12, 2018 at 1:56 am
Cathy Biggerstaff
Thanks for sharing your ideas with us, Debbie! Blessings to you as you continue to write for children.
January 12, 2018 at 7:05 am
freda Lewkowicz
This helps open some closed doors for me. Thank you.
January 12, 2018 at 7:59 am
Rachelle
These books sound interesting. Thanks for sharing the thought process behind them.
January 12, 2018 at 11:02 am
topangamaria
Tradition is a wonderful well spring to dip into. Made me think of the song Tradition sung in Fiddler on the Roof. Yeah!
January 12, 2018 at 3:41 pm
Susie Sawyer
I love the idea of digging down into our ancestry for story ideas. I’m quite a mixed breed, so I have lots of options! 🙂 Thank you for the idea and congratulations on your 4-book deal!!
January 12, 2018 at 5:21 pm
Monica A. Harris
This topic has me asking my parents a few questions — what things do I TAKE for granted as being ‘traditions’ when they’re really only traditions in my Dutch upbringing. Hmmm? Good pondering points.
January 12, 2018 at 9:50 pm
Janet Halfmann
What an inspiring post. I can’t wait to mine my family’s traditions!
January 13, 2018 at 11:45 am
Midge Ballou Smith
So inspiring! Thank you! ❤
January 13, 2018 at 8:55 pm
christinerodenbour
My own childhood traditions…it’s time I reflect on these, thanks for the post!’
January 13, 2018 at 9:08 pm
Susanne Whitehouse
Memories, traditions and culture…already writing down ideas! Thank you!
January 14, 2018 at 8:44 pm
April Scott
I already have some ideas from my family traditions! Great post.
January 14, 2018 at 11:05 pm
Joannie Duris
Thank you for sharing the inspiration behind your Jasmine Toguchi series, and congratulations on finally being able to give your daruma a second eye! I grew up in Japan, and have a great appreciation for Japanese traditions–I still remember creating my own Girl’s Day dolls out of cardboard. Mining my own family traditions is a perfect way to spark new ideas. Thanks!
January 15, 2018 at 7:13 pm
Carolyn Kraft
Thanks for the great ideas Debbi! Your post just reminded me of a family tradition that must be shared in a story some how.
January 16, 2018 at 12:06 pm
Michelle Mullen
Debbi I have always been so curious about Japanese culture, and have been to Tokyo once on a 2 day business trip (painfully too short!). Your post was so educational on Japanese culture and how children fit into that (or don’t!). Additionally I don’t know much about Chapter Books, so you inspired me to approach this genre as well. I’ll be hunting down your Jasmine series to support you and read with fascination! Thank you for sharing.
January 16, 2018 at 11:19 pm
Bronte Colbert
Very inspiring! Thank you!
January 18, 2018 at 2:24 pm
Linda J Thomas
Thank you Debbi for sharing your idea-storming for your series! I love reading about traditions in other cultures and think it’s so important for young readers too! My Dad’s family was from Wales, so maybe I’ll start there for some story ideas.
January 18, 2018 at 2:59 pm
Jilanne Hoffmann
I LOVE that you said “yes!” without having a clue about the future. Pushing your limits has suited you well! Congrats!
January 18, 2018 at 3:50 pm
Lauri Meyers
I love how much of your own desires are infused in these stories.
January 18, 2018 at 5:13 pm
DB Cote
I liked your suggestion to use cultural/family traditions to generate ideas. Thank you, Debbi.
January 19, 2018 at 9:38 am
Kathy Cornell Berman
I read your books, they’re delightful.
January 19, 2018 at 2:50 pm
sunwalker2013
Thanks for this push. Since I’ve always considered myself an ordinary little white girl, who had no authentic cultural traditions, this is going to be worthy of some significant work. Thank you so much!
January 20, 2018 at 4:17 am
Myrna Foster
Oh my gosh, your books sound amazing! I can’t wait to read them now. Thanks for sharing your experiences in coming up with plots for them.
January 21, 2018 at 12:33 am
Brenda Bokenyi
I love the fun take on a traditional idea.
January 21, 2018 at 9:05 pm
Sarah Momo Romero
I really like this tip for looking into our culture and traditions for ideas. It’s a great way to learn more about our own histories and connect with our families as well. Thanks for the great post, Debbi!
January 22, 2018 at 3:39 pm
Melanie Lucero
Love this tip! Thank you!
January 23, 2018 at 8:47 am
Michelle O'Hara Levin
I love that you said, yes and then found the answers! And I love mochi. 🙂
January 23, 2018 at 3:13 pm
kiwijenny
When you are in your culture you forget that not everyone else is. That what you thought was common and normal really isn’t. Thank you. I am a Part British, part New Zealander. My kids are part New Zealander part American my grandson was born in Scotland. My other grandkids live in Cambodia. Yea our normal may not be other people’s norm.
January 24, 2018 at 11:47 pm
julia dworschack
Ahhhh, family traditions…..thank you for that spark!
January 25, 2018 at 11:32 am
ammwrite3
Thank you for sharing your backstory for these books–so interesting!
January 28, 2018 at 3:43 am
kelliejanebyrnes
Such great ideas here. Plus, I so loved hearing how you came up with the book ideas for the rest of your series. It has sparked an idea for me already, just reading your post, so thanks! 🙂
January 28, 2018 at 9:22 am
Rebecca Sheraton
Good advice
January 28, 2018 at 8:30 pm
Barb Ostapina
Looking ahead to the past… clever, Debbi!
January 30, 2018 at 10:09 am
Susan Nicholas
What a fun memory-jogger. Thanks for the prompt. I’ve already made a list.
January 30, 2018 at 2:52 pm
Anna Levin
Great idea to generate ideas! Loved your post!
January 31, 2018 at 7:11 pm
Hannah Tuohy (@hannahlollman)
I love the idea of drawing from family traditions (cherish and not-so-cherished haha) Thank you for sharing, Debbi!
February 1, 2018 at 3:22 am
Annie Bailey
Debbi!!!!!!!! You’re amazing! Great post!