Ruth Barshaw:
CLASS OF 1977
Harper Woods High SchoolClass of 1977
Harper woods, MI
Michigan State UniversityClass of 1981
East lansing, MI
Harper Woods Junior High SchoolClass of 1973
Harper woods, MI
Tyrone Elementary SchoolClass of 1971
Harper woods, MI
Ruth's Story
I'm a professional author-illustrator, married, 4 kids. Google me to find my books (for kids), website & email addy. Attended MSU, live in Lansing. Life is good.
I'd love to hear from anyone from Harper Woods schools - email is ruthexpress at aol dot com. If I'm working on book deadlines it might take a while to get back with you.
Hmm, I see that by buying the silly Classmates gold membership I get lots more space to write a bio.
Most of my time is spent with family, or doing Hapkido (Korean martial art), or writing/illustrating books for kids, or planning/presenting author visit assemblies at schools, libraries and bookstores.
My husband Charlie and I do a great program for kids, helping them become better writers (and illustrators and cartoonists). Our program touches on lots of life lessons, like working hard, finding your passion, giving up perfection (and just doing your best), and connecting with other creative people.
My middle grade novels feature Ellie McDoodle, an 11 year old girl who keeps sketch journals about her advantures and challenges. The format is a cross between a traditional novel and a graphic novel, with drawings on every page and weaving into the story bits of nature science, wordplay, games (instructions included), crafts and pranks.
The Ellie McDoodle books are often compared to Diary of a Wimpy Kid, a national bestseller (the first Wimpy Kid came out a month before the first Ellie -- that author and I were thinking of basically the same idea at the same time).
Targeted audience is ages 7-12.
The first book is Ellie McDoodle: Have Pen, Will Travel. It came out in May 2007 to excellent reviews from all the important sources (Kirkus, School Library Journal, Publishers Weekly, etc).
Ellie McDoodle goes camping with relatives she cannot stand but eventually learns they're not so one-dimensional, and she finds ways to make the week more fun.
The second book, Ellie McDoodle: New Kid in School, came out in July 2008.
Ellie McDoodle attends a new school in a new city and is horrified when the kids play New Kid Bingo on her, but eventually she takes up the cause for shorter lunch lines, and makes friends in the process.
The third book, Ellie McDoodle: Best Friends Fur-Ever, came out in August 2010. In this one, Ellie's animal-crazy family can't agree on a pet and Ellie has to do a report for school-- just thinking about standing at the front of the room gives her hives. Ellie is asked to birdsit the African Grey parrot next door and Ellie decides to get the talking bird to recite her presentation to the class. Only one problem: The bird doesn't like her and won't cooperate. And -- horrors! -- her little brother accidentally lets the bird out of the house. Ellie has to find the bird, figure out what to do for her presentation, and cope with the new family pets.
In the fourth book, Ellie McDoodle: Most Valuable Player, which came out in Fe...Expand for more
b 2012, Ellie takes up soccer not realizing her dad is the new coach. She also participates in academic games, and when competitions for soccer and Journey to the Center of the Mind are scheduled for the same day, she wonders which one she'll attend. (Hint -- both -- but it's not easy).
Books 5 and 6 are about theater and green activities, and come out in 2013 and 2014.
Since they're kids' books there's always a happy ending.
And they're all done in my trademark sketchy style.
That style was kickstarted back in high school. Mrs. McCarthy, the Harper Woods High School art teacher, gave me a blank book and suggested I keep track of my life in it. I was 15 years old and have kept a sketch journal ever since. I have hundreds of sketch journals at home, from trips, school events, daily life, some weddings and funerals and even a couple births.
Mrs. Elizabeth McCarthy, retired art teacher, has my undying gratitude for starting it all (and we named our first kid after her). I'm also very grateful to a few other great teachers in Harper Woods.
BloomsburyUS is my publisher (BloomsburyUK discovered Harry Potter but I am not comparing my work to Rowling's...) and they want lots more books.
I'm working on the next two Ellie McDoodle books and a graphic novel and a few other books for kids.
Life only took me about 28 years to figure out that kids' books is what I want to do with my skills and interests... I have great sympathy for those who have tried to start a new career in midstream, like I have.
I started working on my own, out of my house, in 1992, and promptly won 6 national essay contests (5 grand prizes and 1 first prize, for the state level) and a huge bag of money. Unfortunately that money's all been spent -- fun while it lasted.
The contests were for M&Ms/Kudos Working Mother of the Year, Land O' Lakes Butter, Stouffers Come Home to Dinner -- and the title of America's Most Harried Home Cook (won a year's supply of frozen dinners), Suave Family Manager of the Year, American Library Association/Suave How I Use the Library (in 125 words or less), and Robitussin's Dr. Mom (I'm Dr. Mom for Michigan).
Previously I worked in advertising at Michigan State University doing illustrations and promotional work, a job I got from being a student there.
Previous to that I was a student at MSU, 8 years, no degree. Alas. I enjoyed taking classes in any field that interested me instead of following a traditional educational/career path.
Hmm. Still lots more space to use up.
My kids are Lisa (Elizabeth), 29, Joe, 26, Katie, 23 and Emily, 15. Class of 1977 members may remember seeing me with our youngest as a newborn at the 20 year reunion.
Charlie and I have three grandkids.
Charlie is from St. Clair Shores, and we met at MSU. Some of his family is still in SCS, mine is still in HW, and we make it to that side of the state to visit fairly often, especially for author events.
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