Author Finds Career in Work-For-Hire Projects
interview by Sharon O. Blumberg
JP Miller-https://www.authorjpmiller2020.com, grew up in Asheville, North Carolina. As a child her weekdays were filled with school and sports. And with being a preacher’s child, her weekends were filled with church activities. In between, she loved to read. Though she enjoyed classics such as Tom Sawyer and Huckleberry Finn, she had an unrelenting thirst for books about African Americans. She found there were few on this topic, and those she found were stereotypical.
After she graduated from Tennessee State University in 1982, she served as an Airman in the United States Air Force. She was able to put her Recreation Administration Degree to good use in fitness, social recreation, and athletics. She is most proud of being a Desert Storm veteran and her time as Director of Youth Programs.
JP’s journey to authorship began in 2000 when she self-published her first book. She experienced numerous marketing opportunities to promote in newspaper, radio, and television to include Black Entertainment Television (BET).
In 2016 she entered a short story contest sponsored by Brown Girls Publishing. Out of 300 submissions, her manuscript was one of nineteen chosen for their ExChronicles Anthology. The anthology received the #1 National Bestselling Short Stories Award from the African American Literature Book Club (AALBC).
Since October 2020 JP have penned the following work-for-hire picture book projects: Black Stories Matter (Hachette UK), Leaders Like Us, and Careers in the US Military Series (Carson Dellosa/Rourke Educational). Each series have garnered reviews from Booklist Review and the Library School Journal.
Sharon Blumberg: You’ve made a name for yourself as an author writing series of illustrated nonfiction biographies of leaders and heroes from African American history, as well as nonfiction about military careers. These are work-for-hire projects for educational publishers. What drew you to taking on so many work-for-hire projects?
JPM: Can I just say that work-for-hire (WFH) was not the path I envisioned for my writing career. I was on this proverbial hamster wheel …writing stories, submitting to agents, and receiving “champagne” rejection letters. Determined to publish traditionally. But this kept happening over and over again!
It was NAACP Award winning author; Gwendolyn Hooks that posed the question to me that lead me to WFH. “Jp, have you ever considered WFH?”
Of course, I hadn’t. In fact, I ‘d never heard of it. She went on to explain that in WFH, publishers in the educational market present concepts for writing projects but hire freelance authors to do the writing for an agreed upon amount of money. Gwendolyn added that it might be a great way to get my foot in the door for traditional publishing. It was Gwendolyn that recommended me for my first project; the Black Stories Matter Series with Hachette UK as well as the second, Leaders Like Us with Carson Dellosa. I credit her for my introduction and success to WFH.
SB: What are some of the advantages and disadvantages of work-for-hire writing assignments?
JPM: I feel that the advantages and disadvantages of work-for hire (WFH) is in the eye of the freelance author. When I entered the world of WFH I had no idea what the going rates were for writing. I was just excited to have my name on books that would soon be in the hands of school-age children. I later learned that what I was paid was extremely low for a project of that magnitude. I also learned that the education market does not have budgets like traditional publishing. What I received was said to be the norm for the education market. Some may see that as a disadvantage, but I didn’t. I saw it as an opportunity to establish a name for myself.
Similarly, in WFH the publisher retains all rights to a work completed by a freelance author. Some may view this as a disadvantage. For me, although the rights aren’t mine, I still treat each of my projects as if they are. I market and seek opportunities for school visits and other book events. After all, my name IS on the cover.
I guess I don’t look at any of it as a disadvantage. Work-for-hire is simply another means for me to reach my audience of young readers eager to learn more about African American History/Culture.
SB: Are you responsible for having a knowledge of educational components such as appropriate readability of the text or Core Standards that may be incorporated into the book’s content?
JPM: As a first time freelance writer, I was not held responsible for knowing the appropriate readability of text or core standards. The editor provided this information and I wrote within the parameters. I must admit that my first couple of drafts were pretty inked up. (LOL) But it wasn’t long before I caught on. I’ve particularly became very reliant on ATOS (the standard used by most publishers to determine readability- ATOS for Text – ATOS Text Analyzer – Analyze Text Complexity (renaissance.com).
Have no fear . . . the editors are very patient and helpful in working with freelance writers. They want us to succeed!
SB: Since work-for-hire projects have tight deadlines, you must be an efficient researcher. What are some of your favorite research strategies?
JPM: Research is my favorite part of writing. 😊 I turn into a full-fledged detective. Starting with the Internet, I look for everything and anything that helps bring that person to life for me. I love YouTube videos!! Especially when they are of the actual person talking, performing, or being interviewed. Not only do I learn about what made them famous, but I get to learn the little things about the person that help give my story heart.
Next, I go to newspaper.com. I love this resource because I can find articles and interviews when the person was in the throw of whatever it was they became famous for. I’m able to find original quotes and unique bits of information not available any place else. Generally, it takes a week of non-stop research before I can move on to my outline.
SB: You currently have an agent. Did your agent help you get in the door with educational publishers, or did you get these assignments yourself? Do you have any tips for authors wanting to approach educational publishers for assignments?
JPM: Yes, I am represented by Sera Rivers, Senior Literary Manager at Martin Literary Management. All my work-for-hire (WFH) projects to this point were acquired prior to signing with Sera. I am so excited to work with Sera because she supports my desire to do WFH and will seek out both traditional and WFH publishing opportunities on my behalf.
For anyone interested in writing for the education market my advice would first be to be to develop a resume geared toward your writing experience. You would want to make sure you highlight all of your social media sites, any professional organizations you are affiliated with, development courses/workshops you may have taken, and of course, list any books, articles, etc., you have written and/or published. (I also suggest building a page on LinkedIn.) While building your resume I take the time to tighten up one of their manuscripts that can be sent along with the resume as a sample of your writing.
After these two steps began to seek out publishers and editors on LinkedIn and/or by visiting publisher websites. Learn their acquisition process and the types of books the publisher/editor have published in the past. Some may even accept your package and include you in their database for future projects.
SB: Could you please tell us what you are currently working on as an author? Have the skills you acquired doing work-for-hire books helped you create other types of writing?
JPM: I’ve had the opportunity to write work-for-hire (WFH) and I absolutely love it. I hope that more projects will come my way. Now that I have an agent, I am getting my personal manuscripts shopped to publishers and editors. This is such an exciting time in my life and writing career.
While that’s going on I’ve decided to direct my attention to writing a middle grade story. I’ve toyed with the idea long enough. It’s time to put it on paper. I also plan to revisit a middle grade series that I started in the early 2000s. I self-published then but plan to spruce it up a bit (using what I’ve learned about writing and the kidlit community over the years) in hopes to selling it traditionally some day.
SB: Is there anything else you would like to add regarding work-for-hire or writing for children in general?
JPM: Continue to write and go after your dreams! Be open to what the universe allows!
This interview originally appeared in the November 2022 issue of Children’s Book Insider, the Children’s Writing Monthly, www.WriteForKids.org. Reprinted with permission.
Let’s Chat with Children’s Writer, Gail Skroback Hennessey
interview by Sharon O. Blumberg
Who is Gail Skroback Hennessey, (please see her website:) http://www.gailhennessey.com in the world of children’s writers? She has been on the teacher advisory boards for Instructor Magazine and was a teacher advisory for a number of years for Time for Kids, until her retirement from teaching. Working as a teacher consultant, Gail has also contributed to social studies textbooks, and has written sidebars for topics in science and reading for science and reading textbooks.
She has also written social studies test questions for both ACT Testing Company and the New York State Department of Education.
Ms. Hennessey wrote the monthly teaching guides for Cobblestone’s Click, Spider, and Ladybug Magazines from 2006-2012. She has written teaching guides for Studies Weekly’s quarterly news publications. She also wrote the content for Studies Weekly’s Grade 6 World Culture newspapers (28 issues) in 2009. Periodically, Gail consulted with Leanna Landsmann’s A+ advice, a weekly column for parents.
Ms. Hennessey continues to be interested in freelance writing projects in social studies, science, and Language Arts. Author of 35 children’s book, her most recent books are Mrs. Paddington and the Silver Mousetraps, published in 2020 by Red Chair Press and Fashion Rules!(Customs of the Middle Ages) in 2021, also by Red Chair Press. Both are available through amazon.com and barnesandnoble.com. Her latest book of biographical plays was published by Social Studies School Service, in 2016.
Mrs. Hennessey currently writes regularly for Highlights for Children and Jack and Jill Magazines and has written for most children’s publications including Time for Kids, Scholastic Magazines, Faces, Muse, Boys’ Life, Ranger Rick and more.
Sharon Blumberg: Could you please share with us how you obtained your first byline, writing for children?
Gail Hennessey: I decided I wanted to write and set about finding topics to develop for fun readings for kids. I did an interview with the California Raisin. That was back in the 1980s. I reviewed magazines and thought one in particular might be a good fit for the piece. I called the editor of Dynamite (Scholastic Publication) and the editor actually picked it up. She was polite but said she didn’t take freelance. I persisted and asked if I could send her the write up. I did. Several days later, (pre-email), the editor called and said I was going to be the cover story! Never give up! I started as a regular writer for the magazine until it ceased publication.
SB: As a teacher of over thirty years of experience, how did you work your experience into a second career, writing for educational publishers as a consultant?
GH: I always loved writing and wrote plays for puppets and wrote short stories as a kid. When I began teaching, I was doing a unit on Money/Being a Wise Consumer. I didn’t find many materials for my age group and decided to write stories to explain economic concepts. I thought, why not compile my resources and try and sell it as a book for teachers? It took about thirteen publishers, but I found a publisher who published my first book. I went on to publish one other with this company.
SB: What preliminary steps would you advise to teachers who may be considering this?
GH: If you believe you have something that other teachers might find of value, be persistent and try! Today, I also have a teaching store with Teachers Pay Teachers where I have Reader’s Theater Scripts on famous people in History, Science and Literature, as well as short reading passages and webquests on different topics.
SB: How did you get started writing for high-profiled children’s magazines, including writing teaching guides?
GH: Again, my biggest piece of advice is TRY and think big. I wanted to write for Disney so I sent a letter to the president, Michael Isner. A few weeks later, I got an assignment doing teaching guides for a series of filmstrips (wow-that’s something we don’t have any more!). As for Ranger Rick, National Geographic, Scholastic, Highlights and others, do your homework. Get the names of the current editors. Make contact. Review the magazines to get an idea of what types of stories they use. Don’t give up sounds like a cliche but it is so true. I could paper a room with all the rejections over the years and… I still get rejections.
SB: What background in your teaching helped you write books for children, and standardized tests?
GH: I have a masters in the teaching of Social Studies. Write from what you are interested in…so important. For example, I love developing materials on women who have made contributions to our world that perhaps, kids aren’t aware of. For example, Female Soldiers during the Civil War, Female Pilots during WW2 or Female spies during the Revolutionary War. Being in the classroom, you get a feel for what kids might find interesting. Writing for ACT and NYS Social Studies testing was again in my field(World History)of interest. I made contact with both ACT and NYS Education Department and asked if they had any needs for test writers. I did this for several years but decided I preferred writing over developing test questions.
SB: How did you get started writing biographies for Reader’s Theater? What was your process for this?
GH: My students loved learning about mummies so I decided to write a play on King Tut, using the To Tell the Truth Play (originally Mark Goodson Productions TV Show format). I got permission from the company to develop such plays on other famous people. I wanted kids to know that all famous people started out like them, a beginner in something. Many had the same problems that they face in school today. For example, Socrates was bullied for his looks and kids called him “frog face.” Michelangelo had a father that didn’t support his love of sculpture. Both overcame such possible obstacles. All my plays, To Tell the Truth, or my newer series, Ms. Bie Ografee’s Talk Show, have questions about a famous person’s childhood, what type of student they were in school, what sparked an interest in what they became famous for doing, and lots of other fun tidbits.
SB: How did you become connected and work with a publisher from India?
GH: I spend lots of time on the internet looking for possible story topics, kids to highlight, etc. I found Aadarsh Publishing and said I was interested in writing for them. They were just starting a new series, Purple Turtle, where young kids learned about friendship, honesty, being helpful, helping the environment, etc. From animal friends of Purple Turtle, I went on to write a large number of books for the company.
SB: What are some pros and cons of working with an overseas publisher?
GH: I really didn’t find any issues at all, especially with today’s technology of the Internet and Zoom.
SB: You write about places from all over the world. Do you have any suggestions about the kinds of research strategies you utilize for writers?
GH: A key element in writing is to be interested in the topic. If I find something is interesting to me, maybe kids will find it interesting, too. I love writing for kids and I learn so much in the process, too, of doing interviews. Among them, (the Camel Library in Pakistan, a Penguin Photographer in Antarctica, the two women that stayed at the Arctic over a winter, and the plant sculptures called Mosaiculture). I think whenever possible, you must go to the primary source. You can’t rely just on articles you come upon for a topic. Make contact with the person and today you can do most interviews via email or Skype. I have rarely found someone not willing to talk to me about what they are doing!
SB: Is there anything else you would like to add regarding writing for children, that I have not asked you?
GH: If you DON’T send an article, it is a definite rejection. Always, try. Think BIG and be persistent. In December, I contacted the White House for a Q/A for Highlights on Dr. Jill Biden. After doing some detective work, I made contact even though my first attempt wasn’t successful. I sent the questions through some insider contacts, and Dr. Jill Biden responded, so I could conduct the interview online in April. I had to edit it for word count. I resubmitted it to her contact, who gave it to Dr. Jill Biden, who then retweeked the responses again. The Q/A will be in the November 2022 issue of Highlights for Children.
Writers need to be detectives. Many times I have to search for a contact on Facebook and Twitter to try and connect. I also try and find the town and then, the school a child attends to make connections and hope that the secretary or principal will contact a child’s parent, saying I’m interested in interviewing their child. I recently Skyped a grocery store in Cornwall, where I read the family shopped, asking the manager to contact the family for me! This “searching” for a contact takes much of my time for each article I develop!
Also, My blog is gailsglimmerings.blogspot.com and my teacher store is https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Store/Gail-Hennessey
This interview originally appeared in the December 2022 issue of Children’s Book Insider, the Children’s Writing Monthly, www.WriteForKids.org. Reprinted with permission.
Let’s Chat With Renowned Children’s Author and Mentor, Susanna Leonard Hill
interview by Sharon O. Blumberg
Susanna Leonard Hill grew up in New York City with her siblings and parents, and an assortment of cats. She received her B.A. in English and Psychology from Middlebury College, and her M.A. and M.Ed. in Counseling Psychology and Special Education of Children with Learning Disabilities from Teacher’s College, Columbia University. She worked for many years teaching dyslexic students, but stopped after her third child was born. She currently spends her time writing, teaching writing, and visiting schools, as well as being a mom and grandmom.
Website: https://susannahill.com/
Blog: https://susannahill.com/blog/
Face Book: https://www.facebook.com/SusannaLeonardHill
Twitter: https://twitter.com/SusannaLHill
YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/user/SLHill1
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/susannaleonardhill/
Susanna has published around thirty books for children, her first The House That Mack Built in 2002. In addition, Susanna has received many awards for her books, among them, New York Times bestseller, Wallstreet Journal Fiction Bestseller, Publisher’s Weekly Children’s Picture Book Bestseller, Junior Library Guild Selection, Amelia Bloomer Feminist Books For Youth, Book Sense Children’s Pick, Children’s Book of the Month, Gold Mom’s Choice Award, Itabashi Translation Award, Parents Magazine #1 Board Book of 2017, CBC Bank Street Best Children’s Book of 2017, CBC Bank Street Best Children’s Book of 2018, Amazon Editor’s Pick Best Books ages 3-5, Amazon #1 Bestseller, Amazon Top 100 Bestsellers, CYBILS Award Finalist, and Bookroo Book Box Selection.
Sharon Blumberg: What major life events in your childhood led to your destined, future career as a legendary and renowned, children’s author?
Susanna Leonard Hill: My goodness! “Legendary and renowned” makes me sound a whole lot more amazing than I am! And I’m not sure there was any major life event that led to me wanting to write books for children. For me it was probably a lot of little things. I was a shy girl, always more comfortable in a quiet corner with a book than in the center of school social shenanigans. I belong to a family of readers, so I was always surrounded by books, always read to, always shown that reading was valued. My dad used to tell us the stories of Shakespeare in his own words when we were driving in the car – Hamlet, Macbeth, Twelfth Night… (His dad, my grandpa, was an English professor and the dean of Principia College, so we all know where that came from ☺ And maybe my interest in writing, too. My grandpa wrote a play called White As Snow…But She Drifted:) My mom often read to us at the kitchen table during meals as well as at bedtime. The bedroom I shared with my sister had a big bookshelf made of glass bricks and espresso-colored boards and filled – I mean filled! – with books. Make Way For Ducklings, Mike Mulligan And His Steam Shovel, The Camel Who Took A Walk, Harry The Dirty Dog, Green Eggs And Ham, Bedtime for Frances. . . And later all the Little House books, all of Anne of Green Gables, all the Nancy Drew mysteries, all the Black Stallion books, and many others. I loved them all. And a blank sheet of paper has always held a special magic for me – so full of possibility! I remember sitting on the floor of that bedroom in front of that bookshelf looking at the picture books and thinking, someday I’m going to write one and have my name on the cover as author. And although it took a few decades, I’ve been lucky enough to have that dream come true.
SB: You have won many awards for your children’s books. Does this make it any easier when dealing with publishers, or do you endure rejections just as newer writers experience?
SLH: When I’m writing, I don’t think about awards. I just think about writing the best story I can and getting it to a publisher who will love it as much as I do (which is implemented by my outstanding agent and good friend, Liza Voges of Eden Street Lit.) While having awards may make it easier for some people to sell manuscripts, I have not found that to be the case for me. In fact, just the other day I had three manuscripts rejected – ouch! 🙂 At the end of the day, awards or no, you still have to write the best stories you can write and get the right manuscript across the right editor’s desk at the right time. Even your best work isn’t always going to get accepted if the publisher doesn’t need that particular kind of manuscript at that time, or if they don’t feel it’s a book they can market successfully because the market is flooded, or a host of other reasons. But was becoming a New York Times Bestseller one of the high points of my life? Absolutely, positively, resoundingly YES! 🙂 So reminding myself of that accomplishment makes it (a little!) easier to deal with rejections!
SB: How has the industry changed since you published your first book 20 years ago?
SLH: Oh, gosh. I think the biggest answer to that is social media. It really didn’t exist when I started out – at least not at all the way it does now. It was still exciting to get email (if you can imagine that:) ), and being online was still a novel concept. I remember when my first editor asked me to send her a small revision by email, and I had to ask someone how to send an attachment! When I published my first book no one was expected to have a platform, to be visible on Face Book, Twitter, or Instagram, or to have a blog because, for the most part, those things were in their infancy or didn’t exist yet. Authors weren’t expected to be major participants in their own marketing and publicity. Looking back, it was luxurious! All we had to do was write! Social media is time-consuming, and for all it can be a great source of camaraderie and support (and I do absolutely love that part, especially because writing can be isolating and it’s nice to have a group of friends only a mouse click away), it can also undermine self-confidence to see scads of other authors posting their publishing announcements and selling books right and left if you’re in a slow period not selling much, or if you’re just starting out and are not yet published.
SB: Could you please share one of your most outstanding or memorable school visits?
SLH: Over the years I’ve been lucky enough to have many fantastic school visits. Rooms full of eager, excited kids who participate in my presentations with great enthusiasm and seem to really enjoy my books. Such a treat! There have been some very entertaining moments, including repeated instances where I’ve been asked how old I am and when I say, “How old do you think I am?” the most popular answer is “100!” (In case you’re wondering, I am not 100 🙂 Not yet, anyway 🙂
But sadly it is not these visits that really stand out. I think my most memorable school visit was my very first one. My local indie bookstore was owned by Scott Meyer, a wonderful man who was very supportive of authors and illustrators. When my first book, a little pop-up board book called The House That Mack Built, was published, he asked me if I’d like to participate in an Author’s Day at Mill Road Elementary School in Red Hook. I said, “What would I have to do?” (Remember, I was the shy girl who liked to hide in corners and read, so the idea of having to get up in front of anyone and (gulp) SPEAK! was terrifying.) “Oh, there’s nothing to it,” he assured me. “Just sit in the classroom and read your book.” That sounded okay. I could read. And it would be kindergartners. I love kids. In fact, I have several of my own, so that was pretty well-known territory. That couldn’t be too scary, could it? “Okay,” I agreed. Big mistake. HUGE! Raise your hand if you know how long it takes to read a board book with 6 spreads and less than 200 words. The answer is, NOT half an hour! About 5 minutes tops if you’re seriously dawdling, and then what do you do with 30 five-year olds for the next 25 minutes? Let me tell you just how long those remaining 25 minutes can be..! 🙂 Suffice to say that when I went on my second school visit (a preschool where I did 9 presentations in one day – whole different kind of mistake:) ) I was extremely well-prepared with a presentation that would actually keep my little friends interested and engaged for the full duration of the visit!
SB: In writing your children’s books, do you go through any kind of specific writing process?
SLH: Okay. This is very secret, so please don’t tell anyone.
First, I enter the Cone of Silence.
Next, I drink a magic potion which includes chocolate because, shouldn’t everything?
Finally, I recite a spell backwards in a whisper, place my fingers on the keyboard, and produce a perfect final draft on the first try, which immediately goes to a seven-house bidding war and sells for stupendous amounts of money, followed by a dog-eat-dog scramble for movie rights. Fame and fortune follow.
Oh.
You wanted reality? 🙂
Let’s see. I usually get ideas in pieces while I’m washing the dishes or walking the dogs or trying to extract the bit of pretzel my son inserted into the baby’s ear. I need more than one piece to write a book. So, I tuck those pieces into the back of my mind and let them roll around there for a period of days, weeks, months, years… however long it takes for them to roll into another piece that sticks to them and makes them into enough of an idea to be actually usable. I do a lot of the initial writing in my head, rehearsing little bits until I can get to some form of writing utensil and paper because, why does most of your best work happen in the shower, while driving, or while changing someone’s diaper? Once I’m at the point where I’m ready to write, I write all my first drafts in pen on paper. Only after I have a draft I’m semi-happy with do I transfer it to the computer. I don’t know why – maybe it’s because I’m extremely ancient and grew up in the last millennium – but I think better with a pen in my hand, physically writing. When I have a draft on the computer I revise ad nauseum until I feel it’s ready to either give to my agent or to be used as hamster bedding because my agent should never have to waste her time on such rubbish! Voila! My process in a nutshell. 🙂
SB: Two of your best-selling picture books, Moon’s First Friends and Mars’ First Friends, blend actual events from space exploration with anthropomorphized characters. Did you have any trouble selling these concepts to your editor? Have teachers found ways to use these books in the classroom?
SLH: Moon’s First Friends was written because an editor who loved Can’t Sleep Without Sheep asked if I’d be interested in writing a book for his publishing house for the 50th anniversary of the moon landing. He said they knew there would be a lot of nonfiction coming out for the anniversary, but he wanted fiction. I said I would love to do it. Mars’ First Friends was the requested companion book. So, no, I didn’t have trouble selling the concepts because the publisher approached me. Because of the pandemic, I haven’t had much opportunity to do school visits related to these books, but I assume teachers use them because I see reviews, and teachers I know tell me they like the books and use them in their teaching. The publisher also created a classroom guide for Moon’s First Friends, which I’m sure is helpful to teachers. The back matter in both books is nonfiction and at a higher reading level than the stories, so there is a lot of useful information there that can enhance curriculum, and it also makes the books appealing to a wider age range.
SB: You are a mentor in a number of different ways to future children’s writers. Do your professional activities as a writing mentor help you with your own writing? And if so, in what way?
SLH: Teaching writing and helping other writers is absolutely helpful to my own writing. For starters, I wrote the course I teach, so I had to think very carefully about the process of creating a story. It’s not a formula, of course, but there are certain elements – character, conflict, setting, etc. – that must be included, and they must be presented in an order that makes sense. In order to teach it, I gave a great deal of thought to the writing process, which was something I hadn’t examined with as much care before. In addition, helping other writers with their process is helpful in the same way that being in a critique group is helpful – it gives me the opportunity to read and evaluate other people’s work and then try to identify and articulate what works and what doesn’t in a constructive way. This is great practice for evaluating your own writing. It can be very difficult to judge your own writing objectively because you’re so close to it. Going through the process of evaluating other people’s work helps hone the skills for approaching your own revisions.
I also run writing contests on my blog, and a mini writing challenge series, which gives me an opportunity to stretch my creativity at the same time it (hopefully!) encourages other writers to stretch theirs.
SB: What is some standard advice you give to beginning children’s book writers?
SLH: I’d like to offer something pithy, some guaranteed formula that would allow new writers to jump right onto bookstore and library shelves, something brilliant that has never been mentioned by any other author in one of these interviews – Susanna’s Seven Steps To Certain Overnight Success! Alas, I have pretty much the same thing to say as most of my esteemed colleagues.
READ… A LOT! – Immerse yourself in current picture books so you get a feel for what editors, parents, teachers, and children are looking for now, today. Although certain subjects in picture books have been around forever – “bedtime” books, new baby stories, first day of school, etc. – how they’re written has changed. Get a feel for what sells today. Also, read the classics. Goodnight Moon and The Very Hungry Caterpillar, Where The Wild Things Are and Guess How Much I Love You have been around for decades for a reason. Try to identify what makes them such evergreen reads and incorporate those elements into your own writing. (Easy, right?:))
WRITE… A LOT! – Like anything else, practice makes you better. The more you write, the better you’ll get. As an added bonus, the more you write, the more ideas you’re likely to get. It’s as if writing gets your brain into a special gear that allows you not only to see ideas all around you, but to see them in a way that lends them to story.
EDUCATE YOURSELF – take classes like Renee LaTulippe’s Lyrical Language Lab, Arree Chung’s Storyteller’s Academy, or my own Making Picture Book Magic; participate in webinars; attend writing conferences; read books on craft, like Ann Whitford Paul’s Writing Picture Books: A Hands On Guide From Story to Publication
JOIN WRITING ORGANIZATIONS and CHALLENGES – SCBWI, Children’s Book Insider, Julie Hedlund’s 12×12, Tara Lazar’s STORYSTORM (annually in January)
JOIN A CRITIQUE GROUP if you can, or at least see if you can find a critique partner (see the question above for the rationale.)
ENTER WRITING CONTESTS – great practice writing to specifications and a deadline, nice prizes if you win or place, and potentially a writing credit you can mention when you’re trying to sell your first book and don’t have publishing credits yet.
READ… A LOT! Oh, did I say that already? 🙂 It bears repeating. The better versed you are in the genre you want to write in, the better you’ll understand what you need to bring to the table if you want to get published.
SB: What’s next for you? Do you have any new books on the horizon?
SLH: ALPHABEDTIME, illustrated by Betsy Snyder and published by Nancy Paulsen Books, an imprint of Penguin Random House, is now out in the world, and here is the link. There are purchase options from Penguin Random House but also ALL other major booksellers if anyone is interested in getting a copy for home, classroom, or holiday gifts.
It has been a long time in the making. The book sold in June of 2013, and the few edits were completed by September. It was due out in Summer 2015, but there were numerous unfortunate delays. It has been well worth the wait, however, and will be making its debut on October 25, 2022, 9 years and 4 months after it sold. I think it deserves a prize for that. 🙂
I have two other books coming out December 6th – WHAT LITTLE GIRLS ARE MADE OF, illustrated by Talitha Shipman, and WHAT LITTLE BOYS ARE MADE OF, illustrated by Natalie Vasilica, both from Sourcebooks Wonderland.
This interview originally appeared in the August 2022 issue of Children’s Book Insider, the Children’s Writing Monthly, www.WriteForKids.org. Reprinted with permission.
A Chat With Renowned Children’s Author, Laura Numeroff
interview by Sharon O. Blumberg
Laura Numeroff is an acclaimed #1 New York Times best-selling children’s author of If You Give a Mouse a Cookie and the “If You Give…” series. Mouse, first printed in 1985, is in its 74th printing. If You Take a Mouse to the Movies, the fourth book in the series, was at number one for nine weeks on the New York Times Children’s Best Seller list. She has written 47 books and illustrated nine of them.
Laura was born in Brooklyn, New York. She grew up as the youngest sister of three girls in a home surrounded by art, music and books. Laura attended Pratt Institute and attained a degree in communications. Right before she graduated in 1975, she signed a contract for her first children’s book, Amy for Short, to be published by Macmillan.
Following this accomplishment, Laura received a number of honors and awards for her books. Among them, If You Give a Pig a Pancake, printed in fourteen languages, won the prestigious Quill Award in the picture book category. Books from her “If You Give…” series have been read to children by several presidents and first ladies at public events.
Her latest book, which was co-created by Sean Hanrahan, (the second edition was published in June 2020), is called Raising a Hero. Funded by a Kickstarter campaign, is about how a puppy learns to become a service dog for disabled children with special needs. A portion of all sales supports Canine Companions, a non-profit providing skilled service dogs to children, adults, and veterans with disabilities and special needs, free of charge.
Sharon Blumberg: You began writing when you were nine-years-old. Was there an event that inspired you?
Laura Numeroff: There wasn’t a singular event that inspired me, rather a culmination of time being read to, learning to read, and getting my first library card. I loved reading so much that I started coming up with my own stories. My first book, which I also drew pictures for, was about a horse who goes shopping at Macy’s. I was eight years old. The two books that influenced me the most were Eliose by Kay Thompson and Stuart Little by E.B. White.
SB: How did you conceive of the idea for your series, “If You Give…” series? It’s such a simple, brilliant concept—were you worried editors wouldn’t get it or deem it “too thin” for a book?
LN: Mouse Cookie came to beginning, middle and end on a long boring car trip in the early 80s. It was rejected nine times and yes, a few editors thought there wasn’t enough for a whole book! One editor said they only did series and they didn’t have one that the book would work. Then, the tenth publisher, Harper & Row (now HarperCollins) bought it as a singular book. After a while they decided to do a second book and then eventually a third. I finally got a contract for another six books! That’s why my motto is “Never give up!”
SB: Along with the cause-and-effect pattern of the books, the visual sub-plot in the illustrations of the “If You Give …” books adds tension to the story and keep the pages turning. Did you add any notes to the illustrator about that?
LN: Absolutely none! Most authors don’t work that closely with the illustrator. Some illustrators don’t want any suggestions from the author. Some are amenable to them.
SB: You have other series as well. “The Jellybeans” easy reader series; What Mommies Do Best/What Daddies Do Best, which started a whole flip book series. Did you know these ideas were going to be series from the start? If so, are there important qualities the idea/characters need that make them series-worthy?
LN: They both started out as series which is a lot of pressure! It’s hard for me to write something when the idea doesn’t just come to me spontaneously! In “The Jellybeans,” we needed to make the girls lovable and relatable. Lynn Munsinger’s illustrations certainly did just that! The “Mommies/Daddies” series was meant to show that mothers and fathers do the same thing but do them differently. They aren’t actually “characters” in the true sense of the word. Lynn decided which animals to use and once again, she worked her magic and did the sweetest, most precious illustrations! I’ve done twelve books with her (including Raising a Hero) but unfortunately, she’s retired now!
SB: Is the process of developing/writing your single titles different from writing your series books?
LN: Not really. Each book should stand alone as a complete book. Nothing happens in any of them that leads to another story. The exception being the “If You Give …” series which follows a similar pattern in each one.
SB: As a New York Times best-selling children’s author and having won numerous awards in children’s books categories. How did winning them change your career as an author? Did winning an award make it easier to sell your next manuscript, or did you still have to endure rejections like less-established authors do?
LN: The awards didn’t really make it easier. Neither did being on the Times or Publishers Weekly’s list. I’m still getting rejected! The New York Times list does help with sales.
SB: Besides donating a portion of sales from Raising a Hero to Canine Companions, you donated a portion of my book royalties to First Book, a non-profit that provides new books to children who otherwise would not have access to them, and all royalties from your book The Hope Tree – Kids Talk About Cancer to the Susan B. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation. Was this always a mission of yours, to get to a point in your career where you can use your work to help causes you care about?
LN: It was a dream of mind to be able to help kids. I always said I’d rather be known for what I do for others than the amount of books I sell. I wish I could do more! I sponsor a horse for therapeutic riding. My goal is to open a library in a school and dedicate it to my parents.
SB: Please tell us how the Amazon animated series of If You Give a Mouse a Cookie came about. Do you write the episodes, which go far beyond the book?
LN: I have an animation agent who got it sold to Amazon. They did over 50 eleven minute episodes. I got to help with voice casting and sit in on some of the recording. I didn’t write any episodes. It’s a very different style to write for animation and it’s much harder than it looks. I was able to read the scripts and story ideas and give notes. It was nominated for two Emmys including “Best Pre-School Animated Show.”
SB: Do you have any final words of advice for aspiring authors?
LN: I think one of the most important things is to be a passionate and an avid reader. Taking a class in writing is always helpful. Being able to deal with rejection is absolutely necessary, otherwise you’ll never be happy. Writing, illustrating and selling children’s books isn’t as easy as you might think. You have a limited number of pages per book and you have to create characters that kids will fall in love with. But, with all the rejections, I can’t think of anything else I’d rather do! I’m getting paid to use my silly imagination and make kids laugh! There’s nothing better than that! I’ve been very, very, very lucky!
Also, I just got back from Africa where I funded a library in Malawi for VILLAGE BOOK BUILDERS! The library is located at the Biwi School but is open to the community! The library includes 1,000 books, 10 laptops and a full time librarian. I am about to do a GO FUND ME campaign to open a second one! It was an incredible experience and the kids were SOOOOO wonderful and welcoming! I will never forget their smiling faces as they looked over all the books on the shelves!
This interview originally appeared on the Write for Kids Blog, www.WriteForKids.org. Reprinted with permission.
Let’s Chat with Dr. Michael Sampson, New York Times Best Selling Author
Interview by Sharon O. Blumberg
Dr. Michael Sampson is a New York Times best selling author of 36 books for young children, including Chicka, Chicka, 1, 2, 3 and The Bill Martin Jr Big Book of Poetry. He has also written books on emergent literacy (The Pursuit of Literacy) and on literacy acquisition (Total Literacy: Reading, Writing, and Learning).
After teaching in the public schools, Sampson earned his Ph.D. in Reading at the University of Arizona, where he met and established a lifelong friendship and professional relationship with the late children’s author and fellow literacy expert, Bill Martin, Jr. Together they wrote many popular books. His newest two books, Listen to our World and Spunky Little Monkey which were published in 2016 and 2017, became best sellers. Two more Martin/Sampson books will be published in 2022-Armadillo Antics and 10 Little Squirrels. Michael’s new book on Ukraine, The Story of Ukraine: An Anthem of Glory and Freedom, comes out Dec 13, 2022. Michael has recently been at book festivals in Nashville and Atlanta, and then to Austin at the Texas Book Festival.
Sampson travels the US and the world, speaking at schools, book festivals, and conferences, where he is known for his high energy and entertaining performances. He not only shares his book, but tips on how young readers can become writers.
Sampson is a professor of literacy at St.John’s University in New York City, and lives in Manhattan near Union Square. He continues to teach writing courses at the St. John’s campuses in New York, Paris, and Rome.
Learn more about Michael at www.michaelsampson.com
Sharon O. Blumberg: Your first published book, Experiences with Literacy, came out of your experiences as a teacher. How did your teaching inform or influence your writing when you first started publishing books for children in the 1990s?
Michael Sampson: My experiences in the classroom taught me that children will come to reading when they have books that interest them and that they can be successful with. That’s why my texts feature colorful and attractive art and language that features rhyme, rhythm and repetition. My goal is to create “instant readers” by giving children books they can read themselves after a parent or teacher reads it to them a few times. Children learn through the ear, and what comes in the ear and touches the heart will soon be something they can read as they match what they know about the story with what is on the page. For example, the song “We don’t talk about Bruno” is now known by millions of kids who sing it perfectly. And they learned it by ear. I like to think of my books as music—or songs.
SB: How did your friendship and professional life as an author connect you with the late, beloved children’s author, Dr. Bill Martin Jr?
MS: Bill and I started working together in staff development in 1978 when we first met at a reading conference in Tucson. Over the following 20 years, more than 100,000 teachers learned about our theories of reading at our Pathways to Literacy conferences. We started writing picture books together in 1993.
SB: Many of your books for children were co-authored with Bill Martin Jr. How does the co-authoring arrangement work? Did one of you write the first draft, then pass it on to the other for edits, for example?
MS: Bill moved to Commerce, Texas in 1993 in a house he built across a small lake from me. He would walk over to my house or me to his every morning. After breakfast, we would work on manuscripts four or five hours. I am very visual, and Bill is very auditory. Thus, I would jot down the lines as we wrote them and read them back to Bill, who did edits using his amazing ear to get the sound just right. We usually worked on one manuscript about three months, doing more than 30 drafts before we were ready to share it with a publisher. Chicka, Chicka, 1, 2, 3 had 55 revisions. To date, more than 35 of our books have been published.
SB: You’ve also written books without a co-author, such as The Football That Won and Football Fever. How was this writing experience different? Do you have a preference between co-authoring or writing alone?
MS: I like working with other people. Collaboration makes our work better. Although the football books you mentioned are solo by me, Bill did indeed work on the stories with me and gave me feedback. I continue to collaborate today. My book that comes out this summer, The Pig, the Elephant, and the Wisecracking Bird, is co-authored by Bonnie Johnson.
SB: Tell us about your school visits. What makes a great school presentation for elementary vs. middle school students? Please share some of your most memorable school visits.
MS: I love school visits! It’s so exciting to meet the children that read my books, and they inspire me to great heights as I perform my books to them and give them tips on how they can be great readers and writers. One visit I remember was in California where the kids and art teachers had made wooden statutes of the characters from our book Little Granny Quarterback! At another visit in Long Island, New York, there were hundreds of paintings by kids depicting many of our books.
SB: You’ve co-authored many academic papers about literacy and reading. Is there anything children’s authors should know about how kids learn to read that will help them write books that better speak to their audience?
MS: First, I’ll share about my process. Writing is storytelling. Spin your yarn and write it down as the tale unfolds. Save editing for later. The key is to let our stream of language flow without interruption. Second, focus on the story and don’t worry about the audience. Books find their own level and audience when they come out. We never worry about vocabulary level or readability. Kids will read what they love and are interested in. Having said that, we do know that our use of rhythm and repetition will make the book more accessible to young readers.
SB: What upcoming events do you have for the time of this writing?
MS: I have Fulbright to Ukraine (present and until April 2022) and
Texas Library Association-Tuesday, April 26th 10-10:50 AM, Fort Worth Texas
SB: Is there anything else you would like to add that I have not asked you?
MS: I always give this advice to children in my author visits—“If you want to be a writer, you have to be a reader.” That applies of all of us. As an adult, I continue to read a novel a week. When I read, I am internalizing the way other writers use language and vocabulary. It’s an investment, but most of all, the great joy of my life.
This interview originally appeared on the Write for Kids Blog, www.WriteForKids.org. Reprinted with permission.
A Chat With Legendary Author—Avi
interview by Sharon O. Blumberg
It’s exciting to chat with Avi, award-winning author of over 85 books for children, young adults, and beyond. During this writing, two new books are on the way, THE SECRET SISTERS and an as-yet-untitled work, 2023, 2024 respectively. Raised in Brooklyn in New York City, Avi was a serious reader from early childhood on, as he grew up in a home where books and reading were encouraged and important. He got his name from his twin sister who called him Avi, from a year old, and the unique and legendary name remained.
Avi’s major awards and citations for his books are: Newbery Award: Crispin: the Cross of Lead, Newbery Honor: True Confessions of Charlotte Doyle, Newbery Honor: Nothing but the Truth, Boston Globe-Horn Book Award: True Confessions of Charlotte Doyle, Boston Globe Horn Book Award: Poppy, Boston Globe Horn Book Honor: Nothing But the Truth, Scott O’Dell Historical Fiction Award: The Fighting Ground, Christopher Award: Encounter at Easton, Anne Zarrow Award, Boston Public Library Literary Light, ALA Notable Books: The Barn, Crispin at the Edge of the World, The Fighting Ground, Nothing But the Truth, Poppy, Silent Movie, and Who Was That Masked Man Anyway?
In addition, on Avi’s URL, http://www.avi-writer.com when readers visit the site of each of his books, they will find The Story Behind The Story feature, which is quite informative for them.
Sharon Blumberg: Your first book, Things that Sometimes Happen, was published in 1970. Now, over 80 books later, you’re still going strong. What are three things you’ve learned in the course of your career that you wish you had known when you started your writing career?
Avi: I think the key to becoming a good writer is to first become a good reader. My mantra is “Writers don’t write writing they write reading.” When you write for young readers, that is even more important. You must please and engage them. I don’t think anyone is a born good writer. You become a good writer. And there is no end to that becoming. Good writing is hard and elusive. It is a rare skill. If you are not humbled by trying to write well, you are not working hard enough.
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SB: Since you first starting writing for children after you became a father, were there any earlier experiences, including your childhood, that perhaps put you on the path to becoming the author you are today?
A: I grew up in a home in which books and reading were especially important. When I was a child, I was read to nightly by my mother. Family visits to the local library were weekly occasions. I was encouraged to use the library on my own as soon as age allowed. There were never restrictions on what I read. Every birthday, every Christmas I received at least one book. (I still have a few of them) My siblings and I were encouraged to have our own libraries. It’s hardly a coincidence that my twin sister is also a writer.
SB: You have won a number of prestigious awards, among them, a Newbery and two Newbery Honors. How did this change your career as an author? Did winning an award make it easier to sell your next manuscript, or did you still have to endure rejections like less-established authors do?
A: The Newbery is never anything you deserve. It is always a gift. I think it’s a mistake to believe otherwise. One of my first thoughts upon hearing I won the Newbery was, “Oh, Lord, the next book better be good.” And indeed, that next book was one of my hardest books to write, and not necessarily a particularly good one.
Winning a Newbery gives you, if you will, a brand name. You do earn more in a profession that is famously hard to make a living. I think the award can give you the self-confidence to go on, but it does nothing to help you actually write. In fact, it may make it harder, as you try to live up to your (given) reputation.
It can also make it harder to work with certain editors. They can think I know exactly what I am doing, even when I don’t. Their disappointment when I don’t come up with something really good is palpable.
SB: You never seem to pigeonhole yourself as an author. You write across genres, age groups, and have used both animal and human protagonists in your work. Does each new type of book require developing a specific new skill set as an author?
A: I think each book is its own story and I have to find my way with each one. While I am sure readers will find some similarities among my many books, I think each had its own set of rules. Each has to find its way. I am very much an intuitive writer. I discover things as I write, including the story itself. I don’t have rules for myself or my work, other than it must be good. I am not interested in teaching but in narrating experiences.
Over the years the books have become harder to write. I’d like to think that’s because my standards are more demanding.
Of late, I’ve been struggling with a new book. Yesterday, at the end of the day, my wife said to me, “It went well for you today, didn’t it?”
“How did you know?”
“Your typing was fast.”
So much for the process.
SB: You’ve written more than once that the idea behind a book came from something you overheard while going about your everyday life. Is it important for authors to keep their ears open for story connections that may spring from other people’s lives? Can you give one or two examples of how this came about for at least one of your books?
A: No More Magic, S.O.R. Losers, Catch you later, Traitor, Seer of Shadows, Wolf Rider, A Place Called Ugly, to name a few, are based on things that happened to me.
Crispin, The Button War, The Secret School, Nothing but the Truth, Sometimes I Think I Hear My Name, were predicated on experiences I heard others relate, or overheard.
The key tools for writers are ears and a heart.
SB: You visit and Skype with students in schools from all over the world. Could you please share with us some of your most interesting interactions and also share some of the most memorable comments you’ve received regarding reader feedback?
A: It always surprises me that what I’m asked by young readers is so similar no matter where I am.
“Where do you get your ideas?” “How long does it take for you to write a book?” “What’s your favorite book?” and so on. Interesting questions. “What’s your opinion of adjectives?” “How has writing changed you?” “What do you think makes for a good book?” “How, over the years, has your writing changed?”
SB: How are you able to so successfully create characters, conflicts, dialog, and stories that are topical, fresh, relevant, and relatable to today’s teens?
A: I have no idea other than I try to live in the world.
SB: The publishing industry has changed dramatically since you began writing children’s books in the 1970s. Do you have any advice for new authors on how to develop their craft, or keep their focus and passion alive as they navigate through today’s submission and publishing process?
A: The most important people in your publishing world are your spouse or partner, your agent, your editor, and your publicist. In that order. Treat them well, with great respect, and while you can disagree, never argue. There’s nothing wrong with writing for yourself, but professional writing is writing for others.
In today’s world, we do not put a high value on reading, learning, or knowledge. We overvalue personal feelings and judgements. Speaking is more important than listening. But I think beyond all else, the good writer needs good ears, good memory, and a love of reading and language. The rest is a willingness to work.
And using a spell-checker.
This interview originally appeared in the March 2022 issue of Children’s Book Insider, the Children’s Writing Monthly, Write & Publish Children’s Picture Books, Easy Reader, Middle Grade, YA
This interview originally appeared in the March issue of the Children’s Book Insider, The Children’s Writing Monthly, www.WriteForKids.org. Reprinted with permission.
Interview posted on November 3, 2021
Let’s Chat With Suzanne Lieurance, Author and Writing CoachWhat made you want to become an author?
I’d always loved to write and one day I just decided to get serious about getting published, so I joined the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators and went to as many of their local events as I could. I also joined a local critique group.
How long have you been writing?
I’ve been writing as long as I can remember. As a child, I wrote all sorts of stories, poems, and songs.
What made you to decide on the genre you write in?
I loved reading books written for children, and I love children, so I thought I would enjoy writing for children, too.
I also love women’s fiction, and I write that, also.
And, for years I’ve written about my own life experiences. You’d probably be surprised at all the ways you can turn your own experiences into marketable materials. Check out my fearlessfreelancewriting.com coaching program if you’re interested in learning about this.
How does the idea for a book come about?
I’ve written over 40 published books. Sometimes I write on assignment, so my editor will give me the topic I am to write about. Other times, I will get a list of topics a publisher is looking for a book about and I will submit a proposal for a book on one of those topics. And sometimes I simply submit a manuscript that I have written, and a publisher likes it and publishes it.
What draws you to a topic?
My book The Lucky Baseball: My Life in a Japanese-American Internment Camp was written on assignment when my editor at Enslow Publishers sent me a list of topics he was looking to hire writers to write. The topic sounded interesting, although I didn’t know too much about it at the time.
Is research involved in writing your books?
Oh, yes. Research is always involved, even when I’m writing fiction. But I love the research. It’s such fun!
How long does it take you to write a book?
It took about a year to research and write The Lucky Baseball. It often takes less time to write a book, though. I wrote four nonfiction books in one year a few years ago, even though I had to do quite a bit of research. And, of course, easy readers don’t take very long once I get the idea for the story or the topic.
Did your books go through many revisions?
Every book goes through several revisions before I submit the manuscript to my editor or to publishers. Then, there are usually additional revisions that need to be made after my editor has reviewed the manuscript. I usually get the manuscript (which is marked up where changes are needed) along with an editorial letter outlining what changes and revisions the editor would like to see.
What are a few of your favorite books on writing?
I love Bird by Bird by Anne Lamott. I reread it every year. And How I Write by Janet Evanovich is another favorite.
Who is your favorite author, and why?
The late Anita Shreve is one of my favorite authors because every book she wrote was different. It was almost as if she were trying out some new technique with each book to see if she could actually make it work – and she did, every time!
Do you have any tips to share with new writers?
Read widely in the genre you wish to write. But, most importantly, write on a regular basis. And don’t be afraid that your writing will be really awful. It usually is at the beginning of each project. But I tell the writers I coach that most often they need to write the really bad stuff in order to GET to the really good stuff. The sad part is, most beginning writers stop writing after they’ve written a bunch of bad stuff.
Two Random Questions: Do you have a favorite saying or quotation?“Whether you think you can or you think you can’t, either way you are correct.” – Henry Ford
What’s your favorite movie and/or book?
My favorite movie is To Kill a Mockingbird. I didn’t really like the book as much as I did that old black and white movie. Go figure….
My all-time favorite book is one that I read as a child, and it probably isn’t available any longer. It was called The Magic Pin. It was about a pin a little girl got somewhere (I can’t remember where) and when she wore it, she could talk with animals. I always wanted a pin like that so I could talk with animals, too.
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Let’s Chat With Karen Cioffi-Interview posted on October 2021
Sharon: What made you want to become an author?
Karen: I wrote a lullaby years ago for my oldest daughter, who as a baby didn’t like sleeping. When I had my first grandchild, I decided to turn it into a bedtime story. That was the beginning.
Sharon: How long have you been writing?
Karen: I’ve been writing since I was a kid, but didn’t get serious about it until around twenty years ago.
Sharon: What made you to decide on the genre you write in?
Karen: I chose to write for children because there’s so much they can learn. Using stories to teach, convey messages, and so on, it a perfect format. Books can transform lives.
Sharon: How did the ideas for your books come about?
Karen: The first book I wrote, Days End Lullaby, just came to me as I tried to get my baby to sleep.
Walking Through Walls is loosely based on an ancient Chinese tale.
And, my environmental picture book series, The Adventures of Planetman, came out of a desire to bring awareness to children.
Sharon: What drew you to this topic?
Karen: Any children’s book I write is because I want to bring awareness to a child. It could be on character, honesty, the environment, and so on. With Days End Lullaby, I simply wanted a soothing bedtime story.
Sharon: Was research involved in writing your book?
Karen: Just about every book I write, whether my own or a client’s, I do research.
The most extensive was for Walking Through Walls. The setting is 16th century China, so I needed to get the time period right.
Sharon: How long did it take you to write it? What about your other books?
Karen: My middle-grade, Walking Through Walls, took me the longest to write because of the extensive research. It probably took over a year.
Picture books are much quicker, at least for me. But writing rhyme, which Days End Lullaby is, can be time consuming.
Sharon: Did you go through many revisions?
For Walking Through Walls, I did several revisions. Then there were a few more with the publisher.
With The Adventures of Planetman series, there was one or two per book, and then a couple more with the publisher.
Sharon: What are a few of your favorite books on writing?
Boy, there are so many. Ones that quickly come to mind are:
Hooked by Les Edgerton
The Emotion Thesaurus by Angela Ackerman and Becca Puglisi
Story Engineering by Larry Brooks
Second Sight by Chery B. Klein
Sharon: Who is your favorite author, and why?
My favorite author is Kate Chopin, primarily because I love The Story of an Hour.
Next would be Linda Sue Park because I love The Single Shard.
Sharon: Do you have any tips to share with new writers?
Karen: For tips to new writers, I’ll start with a quote:
“The harder I work, the luckier I get” ~ Samuel Goldwyn
You’ve got to do the work. You’ve got to learn as you go along and always keep honing your skills – always keep learning.
If I had to narrow my advice down to three keywords, they’d be: hard work, perseverance, and patience.
And, you should pay-it-forward. Help others learn the ropes when you can.
Sharon: Do you have a favorite saying or quotation?
Karen: I love quotes and my favorite is by Mark Twain: “It’s not what you’ve done that matters, it’s what you haven’t done.”
Okay, I have two favorite quotes. The other is by Dr. Seuss: “You have brains in your head. You have feet in your shoes. You can steer yourself any direction you choose.”
Sharon: What’s your favorite movie and/or book?
Karen: That’s a tough question. I guess The Hobbit trilogy by J.R.R. Tolkien.
Sharon: If you won $2 million tomorrow, what are the first three things you think you would do or buy as soon as you had the check in your hand?
As a former accountant, my first thought would be that I wouldn’t get two million. But assuming I did, the first thing I’d do is put $1 million towards my family’s home mortgages. Then, I’d set up savings for my grandchildren. Finally, I’d buy a small lake front home (something I’ve dreamed of for a long, long time).
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BIO
Karen Cioffi is an award-winning children’s author and children’s ghostwriter with clients worldwide. She’s also an author/blogger online instructor with WOW! Women on Writing, and the owner and editor-in-chief of Writers on the Move.
LINKS:
https://karencioffiwritingforchildren.com
https://karencioffiwritingforchildren.com/books/
https://writersonthemove.com
Let’s Talk With Randi Lynn Mrvos-Interview posted on September 2021
Sharon: What made you want to become an author?
Randi: After I took my first creative writing class in high school, I fell in love in writing. Later in life, this love was rekindled and I knew deep down in my soul that I needed to be a writer.
Sharon: How long have you been writing?
Randi: I’ve been writing for over 25 years.
Sharon: What made you to decide on the genre you write in?
Randi: When our daughter was young, my husband and I read picture books to her. Most of the stories were delightful, but some of the stories were not very engaging. I thought I could do better. So, I read books, took classes, and attended workshops and conferences to learn the craft of writing picture books for kids.
Sharon: How did the ideas for your books come about? I
Randi: Ideas come to me when I’m touched by particular things: long-forgotten places, old photographs, loving pets, and lonely people. Politics and rhetoric inspired one of my stories. And, a Facebook post gave me the idea for a unique story structure. Sharon: What drew you to this topic?
Randi: In regards to Maggie and the Summer Vacation Show-and-Tell: When I met Charlie and learned about his will to live despite having lost a paw, I knew I had to tell the story of this remarkable dog. Sharon: Was research involved in writing your book?
Randi: Usually, I don’t research my picture books; however, there are three exceptions. One of my stories takes place on a mountain in Kentucky and I researched the area to give the story authenticity. In another work, I interviewed a dog owner and based that story on the facts concerning the animal’s rescue and its health issues. Lastly, I interviewed experts, relied on primary sources, and even acquired letters of an American Civil War soldier when writing a nonfiction picture book for kids. Sharon: How long did it take you to write it? What about your other books?
Randi: It took several months to write my first book, Maggie and the Summer Vacation Show-and-Tell. Then, it was shelved because I couldn’t interest an agent in it. Five years later, I revisited the piece. Believing it was a good story, I revised it and submitted to an agent, who went on to sell it to a small press. With other books, it usually takes me four to six weeks to write the plots and several more months to revise them.
Sharon: Did you go through many revisions?
Randi: I can’t begin to count the number of revisions for Maggie, but the process didn’t scare me. I was excited to bring about the best version of the book, no matter how long that would take.
Sharon: What are a few of your favorite books on writing?
Randi: My two favorite books are Writing Picture Books by Ann Paul Whitford and The Children’s Writer’s Word Book by Alijandra Mogilner. Sharon: Who is your favorite author, and why?
Randi: There are so many. One who comes to mind is Gabriel García Márquez, an author who used magical realism, the blending of the real and the imaginary, to create a fantastical, yet believable story. Sharon: Do you have any tips to share with new writers?
Randi: Follow your dreams. Surround yourself with positive people. Give yourself time to learn the craft of writing for children.
Sharon: Do you have a favorite saying or quotation?
Randi: One of my favorite quotes is: Great things never come from comfort zones.
Sharon: What’s your favorite movie and/or book?
Randi: I love the movie The Hangover because it’s so silly and it makes me laugh. I also like The Way by Emilio Estevez, which chronicles four people’s spiritual journey on the Camino de Santiago. One of my favorite books is Born a Crime. This emotional and passionate memoir by Trevor Noah sheds light on the atrocities of apartheid.