At Tundra Books, we want you to get to know and love our authors as much as you know and love their books. Our creator spotlight series will introduce you to the people behind some of your favorite titles . . . this week, say hello to Tasha Hilderman!
About the Author:
TASHA HILDERMAN graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in English from the University of Saskatchewan. A member of SCBWI and co-owner of a home retail store and garden café in Lloydminster, Tasha has been a panelist and featured speaker at numerous business-industry events, including the 2019 Facebook Communities Summit at Facebook’s Menlo, California headquarters. She is of Métis descent through her mother’s side and a registered member of the Métis Nation of Alberta, and lives with her husband and three children in Alberta.
Fast Five with Tasha Hilderman:
If you could live anywhere, where would it be?
I haven’t found the perfect place yet. I’m looking for somewhere sunny (we get over 300 days of sunshine on the Canadian prairies) with the charm and comforts of a European town, lush natural beauty with lots of trees and flowers, all 4 seasons (but winter is only 3 months long), kind and happy residents and a pleasant average temperature of 25°C with a gentle breeze. If you’ve found this wonder, please let me know.
What’s one thing that can instantly make your day better?
Tea! I love iced tea and hot tea. I love the smell. I love the color. We actually had a pet alpaca we named “Pekoe” after the color of Orange Pekoe tea. One of my favorite childhood memories is my Baba brewing a pot of Red Rose in her clear Pyrex teapot.
Which meal is your favorite: breakfast, lunch, or dinner?
My favorite meal is not a meal, it’s a snack. We have a print in our house that says “Snacktime is kind of a big deal around here.” Snack is fun to say and fun to eat and you can do it whenever you want. But if I had to pick a meal my favorite would be “midnight lunch.” If there is a wedding or a party and they are serving a midnight lunch, I am a happy girl. Midnight lunch is a snack in disguise.
What’s your “dance like nobody’s watching” song?
I don’t have a “dance like no one’s watching” song but I am fond of “singing like no one is listening!” I don’t have a genre, it could be something from Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, or an 80’s commercial jingle or a country song. And, if my children happen to be not listening to me, they will likely receive the request via song, typically something like “please pick up your socks! [uptempo] I have asked you a thousand times [operatic baritone]. Just do it, do it, do it, do it, do it [youth improv theatre style] pick.. up.. your SOCKS!” [crescendo]. [Fin].
What do you look for in a friendship?
Thoughtfulness, a shared sense of humor, wit, a good listener and a good storyteller, someone I can be my true self with, someone that helps me see the world in a different way.
Books by Tasha:
Métis Like Me
Written by Tasha Hilderman
Illustrated by Risa Hugo
40 Pages | Ages 3-7 | Hardcover
ISBN 9781774881125 | Tundra Books
Are you Métis like me? A group of children of Métis descent share and explore all the ways they celebrate and experience their heritage – enjoying traditional foods like bannock bread and Saskatoon berries; crafting with beads; sharing stories, dance, music and songs. Each child shares a different way they enjoy honoring their backgrounds and weaving parts of the rich tapestry that makes up Métis culture. One child, though, has grown up disconnected from their history, and can’t join in with the others in the same way. But they soon see it’s never too late to learn, celebrate or become a part of a community in which Métis and non-Métis alike can discover the richness of an often-overlooked culture. This rhythmic, jubilant book will encourage young readers of all backgrounds to celebrate their own heritage and learn more about Métis history, and contains back matter including an author’s note, recipe and dictionary to further inspire.