A Letter From White Peacock the Butterfly: A Guest Post by Linda Smock

Cute Cover with A Cute Story Behind it

I typically write an intro to welcome our guests, but with a cute cover like this and an incredible story behind her writing I will let Linda do all the talking today. Enjoy Linda's post about her writing journey!

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A Letter From White Peacock, the Butterfly

By Linda Smock

A Letter from White Peacock the Butterfly is a scientific personification of a butterfly who writes a letter to children. This engaging method gets the attention of the reader immediately and helps them remember what they read. The reader enjoys descriptions of the White Peacock’s  life cycle—from egg to caterpillar to butterfly—and how closely her survival is tied to specific plants and natural habitats. The book concludes with interactive activities that allow the reader to continue to learn, to think critically, and to interact with the author in a safe way.

The goal of the book is to help children develop a love and appreciation for nature and to care for the world around them, making it a healthier place for both creatures and people. The author has written several other children’s  books with the same goal. All are available on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Walmart, and other websites.

About the Book

Like many of my books, this story started as an essay for adults. As a Master Gardener Volunteer, I often write for our local online magazine, The Dirt. A Letter from White Peacock the Butterfly was first written as an essay for other master gardeners to learn more about one of the butterflies for which most of us garden.  Friends encouraged me to modify some of my articles to become children’s stories.  That was the birth of my children’s book career! As a retired educator with over forty years working as a teacher, curriculum specialist, and principal, this is the most fun of all!

This book only took me about six months to produce. I re-wrote my essay, worked with Beta readers, collected photographs from a former student and a retired veterinarian whose hobby is photography, had it professionally edited and proofread, and worked with Jennifer Singer, the illustrator, with whom I’ve worked on three other books. It came together quickly. My first children’s book, Just Call Me Honey, which is about honey bees, took about two years!

I’ve had years of writing experience; I wrote textbooks and ancillary materials, wrote for professional magazines, and wrote to entertain my nieces and nephews. During Covid, I was also going through chemotherapy, so I wrote to pass time, and produced five Christian devotional books. Two of those were with a hybrid publisher. I soon realized I preferred self-publishing. All of my children’s books are self-published.  The cost is less and the rewards are up to me and how willing I am to market. I love interacting with children, so attending events with them is a joy.

A Little More About Linda Smock

I grew up on a small farm in northwest Florida, also known as LA (lower Alabama!). I loved to be in and to learn about the great outdoors, often trailing behind my dad as we walked through wooded areas. He taught me about the trees, wildflowers, insects, and animals. I learned to love plants and the creatures that nourish them and are nourished by them. I also worked side by side with mom in her flower beds and in the vegetable garden. We all worked in the fields of cotton, peanuts, and corn, and we all worked with the animals. I developed a deep appreciation for nature. As a child, I often drew pictures of flowers and wrote stories about nature. At an early age, I decided I wanted to be a teacher when I grew up; in high school, I added writer to my goals.

I attended Florida State University and majored in home economics education – it never occurred to me that horticulture or agriculture could be a choice for a female.  That was just not acceptable in the environment or at the time. As a teacher, curriculum specialist and principal, I always had a garden. Butterfly gardening was my favorite, and I loved watching the butterflies fluttering from flower to flower.  I learned to identify them and grew the host plants for their caterpillars and the nectar plants to fill their bellies. I grew vegetables also, and fascinated neighbors with cotton as part of my landscape. Children loved to stop and play in my yard, and I taught them about whatever fascinated them.

I also received my masters’ degree from Florida State and received certification in administration and supervision from the University of South Florida. My Master Gardener certification is from the University of Florida. 

After retirement, Lucy Leukemia came to live with me. I tried hard to kick her out, but after a time, she won the battle, and I started chemo. She’s in the background now, and I am overall healthy and so thankful. I’m hoping I’ve won the war, but realistic enough to know she could start another battle at any time. 

Upcoming Projects

Coming in late August: Betsy the Brazilian Bat. My illustrator, Jennifer Singer, is working on it now. The beta readers have reviewed it and the editor and proofreader have declared it ready to publish. I plan to have it available to purchase by the end of August, in time for the Halloween buyers! It is another scientific personification that will be fun, interactive, and educational. 

Currently, I am working on my first rhyming book for preschool. It is about butterflies and is the most challenging of all the books I’ve written, but I love a good challenge. This one is taking a lot longer than the others; I’m not even ready for beta readers yet.

I’m also working on a second book about bats. There was too much for just one, so this one will be Betsy Bat’s Baby. It is fun! The Beta readers will get it before they get the preschool book!

Social Media

You can follow me on Facebook at Homespun Stories, on Instagram at AuthorLindaSmock, and on LinkedIn as Linda Smock. 

My webpage is www.authorlindasmock.com.

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Guest Post Wrap Up

I don't know about you but I love the covers of Linda's books. They give a scrapbook journal vibe that has been very popular the last few years. Not only do they stand out but it's a great way for readers to identify her books on the shelf.

If you haven't already go and check out all the projects she's been working on. You can also check out some of the latest guest posts including self-publishing authors Christina Davis or Kaity Joy If you would like to be featured on the blog, please feel free to reach out at kalikuzma@gmail.com.