Hello & Welcome!
Hello and welcome to my blog~ Pencils and Pages! I am excited to share my writing journey with you. An insight to all of the highs and lows, the exciting and sometimes banal, but most of all, what I’ve learned and am still learning about the fascinating world of writing stories for children. [I am including middle grade in the term ‘children’ although I believe they would probably take exception to this terminology.] Whether you are a children’s author, parent, or student, I hope you’ll enjoy exploring my website!
I am a retired teacher of over 32 years in the classroom teaching students from grades K-12, with the last half of my career spent teaching at the high school level. My husband and I live in Weeki Wachee, Florida, the place known for Mermaids. Our two children are now adults working and living in Florida. Our home is shared with a mischievous and lovable Aussie-Berna doodle Winnie. Yes, I am a huge fan of Winnie the Pooh. She loves to curl up next to me or at my feet while I write. If I’m not writing, you’ll find me crocheting, reading, or taking photos of the beautiful landscapes around us.
When I retired the first thing everyone asked was, “what’s next?” Honestly, I had no clue! As a retired teacher, the academic aspect of writing was entrenched in thought and process. Yet, the longer I was away from the classroom, the more I found what I missed most [besides the kids] was engaging with stories. This time it wasn’t about breaking down and dissecting someone else’s story, it was about creating one. The ability to create was often stifled in the academic English classroom, most often, creativity took a back seat to comprehension and analysis. I did love teaching literature, but….there was always a but.
I started writing my story ideas in a journal and one day, an idea took on a life of its own and then another one did the same. I have found the stories can come from almost anywhere, initially mine came from personal experiences. The beautiful picture book that is being author published in February 2026 is based on the memories of my grandfather and our walks down street in Saint Albans, Vermont. My middle grade book is based on my own learning, those of family members, and my experiences in the classroom. I’ve found a passion for middle grade realistic fiction and my love for picture books remain. My high school students loved when I used picture books to teach literary concepts and story development, I’ve found that you are never too old for a beautiful picture book.
I’m hoping that I can share the journey of creating children’s stories as a new author. I’ve been given fantastic advice and information that you too may find helpful. There are wonderful books to share that I fell in love with, both past and present, that were read at home with my own kiddos when they were young and in school with my students. Also, I’d like to share some glimpses into my current creations, and what life is like as a new writer entering into a whole new world.
Currently, I took the leap into author publishing, also known as Indie [Independent ] publishing, or self-publishing. The world of traditional publishing isn’t out of the question; it’s just been put on pause for the moment. I am incredibly thankful for YouTube! I have learned so much about formatting from authors who have already gone through the process of publishing! I thought making sure the rules of grammar were followed would be the niggly part of writing, boy was I wrong! Enter in the world of formatting and not the research formatting that I know inside and out! Funny, but the hardest part for me is not to double space after a period! Yes, I grew up in the days of the typewriter and somethings just stay with you forever. Editing now involves deleting lots of extra spaces!
I would love to hear if you are writing [published or not] and how your writing journey is progressing or about books that you love or have found to be wonderful. Please leave me a comment! February 2026 will be a huge month for me. Look for announcements about launch dates and informationon upcoming releases. Sign up for my newsletter for special offers, updates, and news! You can also follow me on Instagram @bethrubin.author or Facebook #bethrubin.author.
"You
can't stay in your corner of the Forest waiting for others to come to you. You
have to go to them sometimes."
- Winnie-the-Pooh, A.A. Milne
Cheers to the storyteller in all of us!