Sambeynonwrites

Hamburger Soup made Publishers Weekly’s Fall Children’s Preview! :)

Fall 2026 Children's Preview: Picture Books Innovative mash-ups, series-launching fantasy adventures, and exciting remixes of familiar classics feature in this season’s offerings for young readers.

My abstract got accepted for the 40th IBBY World Congress in Ottawa this August! 🍎🐛I’ll be dressing up for a few days there. I’m usually a hoop girl, but I wanted to step outside my comfort zone this time. I reached out to ❀ Adanchilla Pauls Lepine ❀ and she custom designed earrings to match my outfits!!!! Like are you kidding me? LOOK at these! Can’t wait to show you how I styled them 💕💕💕💕💕
IndigenousEarrings EricCarle

Part 2 of the Waadimhlkw Story Project 💚

Us Nisg̱a’a people grew up hearing a version of Waadimhlkw, cloaked in dark, carrying a child on her back, sometimes bringing luck, sometimes a warning. Turns out she isn’t just our story, many Indigenous Nations have their own version, and around the world La Llorona in Mexico and Nure-onna in Japan follow a similar pattern too. Every family, Wilp, and community has their own version. Even my own kids are scared to go outside at night, and when they act up they get worried she’ll come out too!

In partnership with First Peoples' Cultural Council

A closer look at the blocks carved by Nisg̲a’a artist Sim’oogit Ts’awit (Calvin McNeil), inspired by Blake Shaá’koon Lepine, a Łingít, Hän, and Cree carver, painter, and printmaker. Go check out his page, his work is incredible!!! 🤗 As mentioned in the previous post, these blocks will live at Nathan Barton Elementary for our children in G̲ingolx. These blocks aren’t just for play, our children can use them to learn formline, hear the stories behind them, count and sort, and more! It matters to us to give credit where it’s due, especially as we’ve seen companies mass product off of our Indigenous artists without credit, using cheap materials. Ts’awit did all the hard work here, I only helped with sanding and finishing. When you’re paying thousands for carved work like this, remember what you’re paying for: knowledge passed down through generations, real creativity, and the hours and hours of labour it takes to make each piece 🙏🏽

Part 1 of the Waadimhlkw Story Project 💚

In partnership with the First Peoples’ Cultural Council and G̲ingolx Government, we received a grant to gather and share our Nisg̲a’a stories about Waadimhlkw, also known as the Green Lady or Lady Luck. Sim’oogit Ts’awit (Calvin McNeil) designed and carved the mask and the blocks, inspired by artist Blake Shaá’koon Lepine. These pieces will live at Nathan Barton Elementary School for our children to learn, play, and dance with.

Storytelling for us is more than a book. It’s the land, it’s art, it’s knowledge passed down through generations.

Stay tuned for part 2 to learn more about Waadimhlkw. If you have your own stories about her, I’d love to hear them. Comment below!!!

Excited to share a project soon, one I’ve been working on in collaboration for over two years! An honour to join Sarah Ling in hers as well. ❤️
These crewnecks were custom made with permission from YASAKW using her beautiful China Lily design for Sarah’s documentary. Again, so iconic, and thank you so much! (These are not for sale)

Do I trade books? Absolutely. I sent some of my books for their new baby, and in return I got this beautiful copper necklace ❤️ Congratulations again on your new addition. ̱a’a

Had the best weekend at the CanLit, Writing, Publishing and Pedagogy Conference at the University of Winnipeg, hosted by .m and So many great connections and amazing books. One I picked up was Creative Writing and Publishing by I finished half the book on my flight home and wow... if you’re interested in writing, publishing, or the field in general, add this one to your library. Aside from the conference, our favourite spots were the Human Rights Museum, The Forks Market, and just taking in all the art and history this beautiful city has. But what’s up with the geese? Is it just me or are they extra wild there? I watched them almost get into a fight with two scooters 😂 Also had to include the last photo because my daughter saw a car and said, “Mom look, it’s the same car as ours... except that one has a unibrow” 😂