Jen Wardrip Interview

Today I want to introduce you to someone for whom I’m truly grateful:

Er, OK, here she is in real life!

Many of you probably recognize the monkey avatar as belonging to Jennifer Wardrip, creator of the TeensReadToo website (an awesome endeavor — as in, it’s a wonderful site and it’s a wonder that she created it on her own!).  So you get the chance to know her better, I asked if she’d mind chatting here for a little while . . . I’m now even more impressed!   She was a published author before I even met her:

Read on to learn more!

Kathy: Jen, you’re an author, a mom, AND you run a website (and who knows what else you do in your SPARE time) – how do you keep up??

Jen: What is spare time?  Can I buy some? 

Seriously, I just keep plugging away.  I only work outside the house three nights a week (I work third shift at a hotel).  That job allows me to get a lot of personal work done (seriously, there are not that many people awake in a hotel at three in the morning!).  So I usually have my laptop with me at work, adding reviews to the website, putting up author posts on the new TRT Book Club blog, perusing Amazon for upcoming releases, posting author interviews, answering emails, and, in general, doing a lot of TRT work while getting paid to do hotel work.

Wait…maybe I shouldn’t say that where the boss can read it!

My kids (ages 13 and almost 9) are both in school, so I’m also usually at work on TRT business all throughout the day (when I’m not sleeping).  I don’t watch much TV, so if I’m not on the computer, I’m reading.  Or running my son around to regular band and honors band (he plays the tuba), or my daughter to Girl Scouts, or attending PTO Meetings, or doing any other of a million things that shows my kids have a much more active social life than I do!

Kathy: OK, I’m tired!  I admire you for being able to function on your website in the wee hours of the morning.  Why do you think the TRT website is such a success? What can we do to help keep it successful?

Jen: The TRT site came about in a fairly unique way.  Back at the beginning of 2006, I was reviewing for an online website called www.RomanceJunkies.com.  They review strictly romance books, and since I loved (and still do) romantic suspense, I had been a volunteer reviewer there for a couple of years.

But then I found two books in the Teen section at my local library – Terry Trueman’s STUCK IN NEUTRAL and Neal Shusterman’s THE SHADOW CLUB.  And I was hooked, immediately, on YA fiction.

Then I started searching the Web for sites that provided YA fiction reviews – or Author Directories – or ANYTHING.  And, quite simply, I couldn’t find what I wanted.  So being the absolutely anal Type-A personality that I am, I decided to create my own website dealing exclusively with books for teens and tweens, both fiction and non-fiction.

I think THAT’S why it’s successful.  www.TeensReadToo.com was one of the first sites to appeal directly to teens, to showcase what they were reading, and to provide invaluable information for younger readers and their parents to find good books to read.

As to keeping it successful – I think that even if no one else visited the site every month except myself, I’d still keep it up and running.  Thankfully, since our numbers have grown to over 1 million unique visitors a month, with over 4 million total page views, I don’t think that will be a problem!  The secret, I truly believe, lies in the fact that I have a terrific staff of volunteer reviewers who spend a large amount of their time reading and reviewing – and everyone, from authors, publishers, publicists, and librarians – appreciate that fact.

But, you know, if you’re an author and you’d like to purchase an ad space to help me pay for shipping all of those books out, I won’t say no!  ;P

Kathy: You DO have a ton of visitors — and that’s good for everyone, readers and writers alike.  Speaking of writers, tell us about your life as Jen Nicholas, author of BAD BOYS OVER EASY and “WICKED” WOMEN ON TOP.

Jen: The short version:  I am a great writer.  I am a horrible author.

Seriously, it’s true.  I’ll try to keep this story short, but I’ll probably end up giving you the long version, anyway.

While I was reviewing for Romance Junkies, two things were coming into fashion at the same time (and this was around 2003-2004): erotic romance and eBook publishing.  I had always had, in the back of mind, aspirations of someday becoming a published author, but I had never actually written anything to try to publish.  (First rule of becoming a published author, by the way, is to actually WRITE something.  Huh…who would have thought?)

I had written tons of reviews of romance books by this point, and there were several authors and fellow reviewers who kept pushing me to try to write a story.  So I did: a longish erotic romance novella.  And I submitted it to an eBook publisher.  And they bought it.  And then they bought the 12 others I wrote in quick succession.  Then, another publisher purchased 2 stories that I co-wrote with a friend of mine.

That job did not make me rich.  In fact, I probably made less than $1,000 all together on those 15 stories.  But it made me realize that not only could I write, but that I could write WELL, and that people actually LIKED what I had to say.

Then, in 2005, popular romance author Lori Foster had a contest on her website.  The basics were that anyone could submit a 1,000 word entry of a completed novella from any scene that they chose, under a user name not connected with their actual name or writing name.  All entries would be voted on by Ms. Foster’s reading public, the winning entry would be read by Kate Duffy (then an editor at Kensington Brava, who sadly passed away from cancer in 2009), and offered a contract.

I didn’t win the reader’s favorite from that contest.  But Kate Duffy read my entry, loved it, called me up and asked for the novella (which, you know, I hadn’t actually FINISHED – I was betting I wouldn’t get that far so didn’t actually pay attention to that rule of the contest).  The short version:  She bought that novella for a $4,000 advance, and contracted for another novella for an additional $4,000.  It’s a really good thing that I do well under pressure, because pretty much every story I’ve ever written I’ve finished in less than 2 weeks.

And that was pretty much the end of my career as an author.  At least for now.  I know there are people out there with their jaws on the floor, wondering why I’m not writing and selling at this point in time.  I mean, I hit the publishing jackpot.  I sold the first story I ever wrote to the first publisher I submitted it to.  I got picked by a major editor from a contest and contracted for two stories.  Without a query, an actual submission, or an agent.

Let me say again:  I am a great writer.  I am a horrible author.

I don’t have the drive, the passion, or the dedication to be a NY Times bestselling author.  That sounds awful.  It IS awful.  But I am the queen of procrastination.  These days, when faced with sitting down and writing, I will find 10,000 other things that I have to do RIGHT NOW before I write.

Yes, I hope to change this.  I still have a lot of stories inside of me, two that I’ve been working on in bits and pieces over the last few months.  Hopefully, one day they’ll be on the shelf, and hopefully they’ll make me money!

Kathy: Two weeks??  Two weeks!  Are you working on a writing project now, or should I say, this week?

Jen: I’ve got two YA stories brewing, although neither are anywhere near ready to be read by others.

One is a contemporary story about a teenage girl who accidentally kills her little brother.  The other is a Christian contemporary fantasy that deals with the Nephilim.  If you’ve never heard of them, Google it!

Kathy: I did Google it — I think you may be starting a new phase of YA lit, Jen . . . we’ve had vampires, then mummies, and now Nephilim!  Whew!  If you had only one book and one movie you could have this weekend, what would they be?

Jen: Oh, that’s so hard, since I absolutely adore so many books.  If we’re going with YA fiction, I’d have to pick HURT GO HAPPY by Ginny Rorby.  This is definitely one of my top ten books of all time.  If we’re going for adult fiction, I’d pick VELOCITY by Dean Koontz.  It’s my favorite of his works, and one I’ve already re-read about 12 times.

For movies, it’s actually easy.  It would be one of three (and yes, I know you said only 1), which are my favorite three films:  Bridget Jones’s Diary, Dances With Wolves, and Ladyhawke.  Or a musical, since I love, love, love them, especially The Court Jester, Seven Brides for Seven Brothers, or The Unsinkable Molly Brown.  Wow, this list could go on and on and on…

Kathy: I need to put those books on my TBR pile!  Now, you have the chance to give one piece of advice to teen readers. What is that?

Jen: Simple:  If you find a dud, don’t stop reading.

There are going to be books you don’t like.  There are going to be books you hate.  There are books that you’re going to give up reading after a couple of chapters.  There are books you’ll want to throw against a wall.  But there will also be books that make you sob like a baby because you feel so deeply for the characters.  There will be books that put you in such a good mood that nothing can ruin your day.  There are books that will make you laugh until you feel like you’re going to pee your pants.  Don’t stop reading.  Even if forced to read such crap as THE GRAPES OF WRATH in school (the book I would NEVER force anyone to read, even my worst enemy), you’ll find jewels like FAHRENHEIT 451 or 1984 or FLOWERS FOR ALGERNON.

And most importantly – don’t ever let ANYONE tell you what you can or cannot read.  Challenge yourself.  Go outside of your comfort zone when it comes to books.  Pick up a banned book, and ask yourself why it was banned – and if you feel comfortable knowing that someone can choose what you’re allowed to read.  Think for yourself, and read for yourself.

Kathy: Nicely said!  Do you have a favorite quote or bumper sticker?

Jen: My favorite quote comes from Anna Quindlen, a NY Times bestselling author:  “I would be most content if my children grew up to be the kind of people who think decorating consists mostly of building enough bookshelves.”

Kathy: I have to admit, when I tell my kids to clean their rooms, I don’t mind too much if there are books all over the place.  What’s something cool you’ve learned from your kids?

Jen: The greatest thing my children have taught me is to never take myself too seriously, to always stop to have fun, and to live each day as if it was my last.  Children are the greatest equalizers – when they’re young they have no prejudice, no meanness, no hatred.  If only we could keep those characteristics as we grow up.

Kathy: )  Why should we read books when there are so many other things to do?

Jen: Because it’s fun and it won’t rot your brain!  It’s one of the cheapest forms of entertainment, especially if you utilize your local public library.  You can read books that you hold in your hands, or books you read on an electronic device, or you can read them on a computer.  You can escape to different worlds, read about people who have lives similar to yours, read about people who do things that you’ll never be able to do, or read about subjects that interest you.  Reading makes you smarter, it makes you more aware of current events, and it makes you sound smart when you have to have a conversation with a group of people. 

Kathy: All true!  Is there anything else you’d like to tell us?

Jen: A number of people have asked my in the last few months what it’s like to raise a 13-year-old son with Asperger’s Syndrome.  Except for the fact that my hair is going gray at a faster-than-normal rate, I gather it’s pretty much the same as raising any 13-year-old son!

Seriously, my son is a constant source of amazement to me.  He was only diagnosed about a year ago, so to me, he’s still the same kid I’ve always known.  He’s still obsessed with Super Mario Bros., he’s still prone to getting aggravated when the kids in school break the rules or don’t know the meaning of the ginormous words he uses in his everyday vocabulary, and he’s still so smart (with an IQ of 150) that it’s sometimes scary.

Yes, it’s a challenge.  He has problems interacting with other people.  He doesn’t get sarcasm, and he can’t read people’s body language.  He’s advanced in school, and yet he has so much trouble interacting socially with his peers.

But in most ways, he’s just another moody, doesn’t-want-to-get-out-of-bed-in-the-morning, yells about all of his homework, computer using, video game playing, hormonal teenager.  And I love him to bits.

Kathy: I sure understand that, Jen — we should get your son and my daughter together!  Sounds like he’s going to be just fine, and he has a loving mom to help him through these teen years. Thanks for taking the time to answer these questions, and here are links to where you can find Jen:

www.teensreadtoo.com

http://trtbookclub.blogspot.com Teens Read Too Book Club Blog

http://rebelbibliophile.blogspot.com (Jen’s personal blog)

http://www.goodreads.com/user/show/1125613

(Jen on Goodreads)

Hilary Hyland Interview

Hi, all!

Please welcome Hilary, who has written a wonderful story about a real life event!  Having lived in Newfoundland, I particularly love this story — but it doesn’t take living there to appreciate courage in the face of danger . . . read on.

Fun Fact:

Hilary grew up in Columbus, Georgia and went to the same high school as Carson McCullers (author of THE HEART IS A LONELY HUNTER).

Background:
Hilary Hyland lives in northern Virginia near Washington, DC. She’s author of the historical fiction middle grade book, The Wreck of the Ethie. It’s inspired by the 1919 true event of a Newfoundland dog saving ninety-two people on a sinking ship. An eighteen month old baby was even saved in the ship’s mailbag.

Her book has won many awards including the Maxwell Medal “Best Children’s Book” sponsored by the Dog Writers Association of America. It was a finalist for the Georgia Children’s Book Award, Tennessee Children’s Book Award and selected by the Library of Virginia for their recommended reading list.

A popular speaker, she has given presentations at more than 300 schools. Her gentle, 160 pound Newfoundland dog (Miss Mouse) usually accompanies her. Her presentation was a finalist for the Telly Award which honors state, regional and local programs.

Before becoming a children’s author/presenter, she was a hotel industry sales/marketing executive. She also owned a mail-order gourmet cookie/gift business. She loves animals, especially dogs and horses.

Kathy:  Hilary, Can you tell us how this book came to be published?

Hilary: I was fortunate. I sent it (unagented) to three publishing houses. Fred Bowen, an author I met was kind enough to forward my manuscript to his editor at Peachtree Publishers. They bought it immediately. Soon after, one of the large NY publishing houses expressed interest, but I had already verbally accepted the offer from Peachtree.

Kathy:  Why should I buy this book?

Hilary: I hope I did the story justice —but, it IS an incredible story. It shows the soul and bravery of a Newfoundland dog and how ordinary people strive to overcome extraordinary circumstances. Think The Perfect Storm for children… a book the whole family can enjoy together. Don’t get me started (but you have!) the story has many heroes including the Captain, crew, passengers and resilient Newfoundlanders along the shore.

Kathy:  That’s enough for me!  And, yes, you DID do this story justice.  Who or what has been the greatest inspiration for your stories?

Hilary: People and animals, not necessarily in that order. I especially love dogs and horses (oh, & people, too!)

Kathy:  :o)  Why did you choose this topic?

Hilary: I am a history buff and voracious reader. My daughter actually brought this story to my attention when she was in elementary school. She read a paragraph in a Newfoundland dog training book about the breed’s true rescue stories. The Ethie shipwreck was mentioned. She kept asking me about it and I became intrigued. I began researching the facts and the more I learned the more fascinated I became. The process took a giant leap forward when I contacted the librarian at the Memorial University in St. John’s, NL. She faxed me forty pages of information and told me that there were still remnants of the ship wrecked on NL’s remote west coast. I traveled to NL saw the shipwreck, visited the Maritime History Archives and interviewed people including the baby who was saved in the ship’s mailbag. To say I was passionate is an understatement. I couldn’t wait to write the story! When I returned, I threw out everything I had written and began with a fresh perspective. The muse had landed!

Kathy:  Excellent example of how a story can morph, huh?  Why do you write for young people?

Hilary: I call children “sponge-people”. Their hearts and minds are open. My wish is to instill that reading books and history is not boring. The world is full of amazing stories and mysteries. It’s like a puzzle, letting a good book lead you down a path of wonder. I love fantasy and fiction, but some of the best stories are true stories. What is it Mark Twain said? “The only difference between reality and fiction is that fiction has to be credible.”

Kathy:  So true!  When do you write?

Hilary: Mornings. The earlier the better.

Kathy:  Where do you write?

Hilary: My library is my office. I’m surrounded by books, pictures and other things that make me happy like my two snoring Newfies at my feet. When I’m on a roll, I have to close the shades because I’m a terrible daydreamer.

Kathy:  What helps you write?

Hilary: Caffeine. A deadline. More caffeine.

Kathy:  How do ideas come to you?

Hilary: Observing life. Newspapers, magazines, television. I have a file chocked-full of interesting stories.

Kathy:  Do you have a favorite quote or bumper sticker?

Hilary: Uh oh. I’m a quotemeister. For years, I’ve kept a small book and jot down quotes, observations, sayings. I have many, many favorites, but two come to mind:
“The cure for boredom is curiosity. There is no cure for curiosity.” Dorothy Parker
“The first rule of holes: once you’re in one, stop digging.” Molly Ivins

Kathy:  Ha!  Love those.  What’s an embarrassing story about yourself that you don’t mind telling?

Hilary: Hmmm. Let me think a moment if I want to fess up. Okay. I will. I was at a school (which will remain nameless to protect the innocent) to give an author presentation with Miss Mouse, my Newfie. She’s a big baby (a wuss) and never lets me out of her sight when we’re in a school (aka, strange place). Before my program started, I darted across the hall to the ladies room, leaving the Mouse with the hapless librarian. All of a sudden I hear “loud” voices as the Mouse had escaped & barged in the restroom looking for me. Unfortunately she went to the wrong bathroom stall door and tried to squish her 160 pound self underneath. You should have heard the Principal scream. Oh, yes. The Principal. We had a good laugh later. Whew, she had a sense of humor. New procedures implemented: Miss Mouse never leaves my side at a school visit.

Kathy:  Thank you for sharing that one — hysterical!  Do you enjoy school visits?

Hilary: Oh, yes. And, yes! Love them! I have a PowerPoint presentation that’s visually exciting. There’s much more I can show the students about my book, historical fiction and the shipwreck. I bring many hands-on items from my two years of research: 1919 newspaper articles, 1919 weather maps, crew manifest, Captain’s log, life ring, photographs of the ship before and after she wrecked. I have pictures of the mailbag the baby was saved in and the silver engraved dog collar awarded to the heroic NL dog. It’s educational and fun, too.
Most schools like me to bring my own Newfie, Miss Mouse. She’s a BIG hit with the children. Most schools allow the kids to pet her, but some don’t. Either way, she thinks it’s all about her and hams it up.
I’ve never had a bad school visit. Some run more smoothly than others — but when I look into the sea of young, eager faces, I am reminded of the importance of reading and how it can inspire lives. Just think…the whole world is open to them, both make-believe and real. What could be better?

Kathy:  Thanks for the encouragement and inspiration, Hilary.  I think you’re the school visit meister as well as the quote meister!  What are you working on now?

Hilary: I discovered a fascinating story that takes place in the 1960s with the Cuban missile crisis as the backdrop. This book will definitely be for teenagers. I’ve put it up and down for a few years & recently completed the research. I’m excited because a character I wasn’t anticipating emerged, demanding to be heard.

Kathy: Ohhh, another example of the wonder of morphing stories.  Cuban missile crisis?  Can’t wait to read this one, Hilary.  I’m going to let you go so you can get to work!  Hilary’s website is: www.hilaryhyland.com Please stop by and visit, and thank you, Hilary, for being here!

Amy Brecount White Interview

Please welcome Amy and her gorgeous book, FORGET-HER-NOTS (Greenwillow 2010) — here’s a summary which, I don’t know about you, but makes me wish I didn’t have to wait until March 2nd!

When someone leaves three mystery flowers outside her dorm door, Laurel thinks that maybe the Avondale School isn’t so awful after all — until her own body starts to freak out. In the middle of her English presentation on the Victorian Language of Flowers, strange words pop into her head, and her body seems to tingle and hum. Impulsively, Laurel gives the love bouquet she made to demonstrate the language to her spinster English teacher. When that teacher unexpectedly and immediately finds romance, Laurel suspects that something — something magical — is up. With her new friend, Kate, she sets out to discover the origins and breadth of her powers by experimenting on herself and others. But she can’t seem to find any living experts in the field of flower powers to guide her. And her bouquets don’t always do her bidding, especially when it comes to her own crush, Justin. Rumors about Laurel and her flowers fly across campus, and she’s soon besieged by requests from girls — both friends and enemies — who want their lives magically transformed — just in time for prom.

Kathy: Amy, why did you write a book that focuses on flowers?

Amy: Because I ADORE flowers. They are truly magical.

Kathy: And, generally, why do you write?

Amy: I write because I think I have something to say and stories to tell. I write to synthesize my experience of the world – what I love and what I hate.

Kathy: How much of your book is autobiographical?

Amy: I think there’s a piece of every writer in every character she writes, but very little has to do directly with the plot of my own life. I’d say it’s more emotionally autobiographical, if that makes sense.

Kathy: It definitely makes sense. What’s an important “nugget” that you’d like readers to take away from your book?

Amy: Give and receive more flowers. It’s scientifically proven that flowers in your life can make you happier and perhaps healthier. Kind of like pets. (I’ll write an article with footnotes and stuff about that one of these days. Promise.)

Kathy: I would love to read that article! Why do you write for young people?

Amy: They are still open-minded and willing to listen and make new connections.

Kathy: What helps you write?

Amy: Reading a lot. And utter silence.

Kathy. Love that utter silence. How do your ideas come to you?

Amy: Sometimes it’s random. I’ll be rollerblading or gardening and something will just fall into place. Other times, it’s hard work – more like a puzzle to solve than inspiration.

Kathy: How long have you been writing?

Amy: I’ve been writing non-fiction, journalism type articles for 16 years. Fiction, for 8 years.

Kathy: Well done! I’d say that puts you on the fast track for fiction publication! Do you have a favorite quote or bumper sticker?

Amy: “Beam me up, Scottie. There’s no intelligent life down here.” (for my cynical days) When I’m feeling more optimistic: “Only connect.” -E.M. Forster

Kathy: Nice! Are you writing a sequel?

Amy: I hope to write a companion novel down the road, but no sequel in the works.

Kathy: What are you working on now?

Amy: A YA novel called STRING THEORIES. It’s about the physics of teenage lives, a watershed, friendship, and getting even.

Kathy: Ohhh, sounds intriguing! So, tell us, why should kids read books when there are so many other things to do?

Amy: Because every book is a plunge into another life, another point of view, and a chance to walk in someone else’s flip-flops. No gaming system can provide such variety and simultaneously help your SAT scores. Just kidding, but I do believe that reading is the only way to become a better writer and thinker.

Kathy: Good answer! Tell us why we should buy this book.

Amy: Because you will never look at flowers in quite the same way.

Kathy: ) You have the chance to give one piece of advice to teen readers. What is that?

Amy: Hang in there. The world of one high school is sooo limited and under-representative of the universe. You will find love and understanding and happiness. That’s yet another reason why I love the internet, because it lets us connect more easily with like-minded people.

Kathy: And speaking of connecting, here’s Amy’s website

Thanks for coming by, Amy, and I look forward to reading FORGET-HER-NOTS in 6 weeks!

Crissa-Jean Chappell Interview — it’s a video!

This very cool video is a piece of art!!

Joan Kaywell Interview

Here’s a special book with a whole lot of heart from a special woman with a whole lot of heart.  I “met” Joan when I joined ALAN, since she is membership secretary and every email she sent had great info, lots of care, heartfelt sections and funny parts as well.  The best part was that each email seemed to speak to me personally.  Well, some of them did, because she’s great at responding to emails right away even though she’s a professor and executive director of the Florida Council of Teachers of English.  Hmm, I wonder what she does in her SPARE time. (?!)  As it turns out, she writes books!  DEAR AUTHOR: LETTERS OF HOPE (top young adult authors respond to kids’ toughest issues) is a real beauty.  A book for every children’s writer, every child, and really, everyone.  It’s a great read aloud for teachers, although it’s a good thing I’m not a teacher because I’m afraid I would start crying at the poignancy of it all.  But the key words is hope.  There’s oodles of hope in this book that’ll keep you turning the pages and marveling at the care of YA authors and the strength of their readers.  Thank you, Joan, for a book that reminds us all why we keep writing!

Now, for some words from Joan herself . . .

Kathy: Can you tell us how this book came to be published?

Joan: The idea for this book came while attending the 1999 Assembly on Literature for Adolescents (ALAN) in Denver, Colorado.  As president of ALAN that year, I had the privilege of planning the workshop and its theme, “Saving Our Students’ Lives through Literature and Laughter.”  Authors who wrote realistic fiction that addresses tough issues for teens shared their writing, their wisdom, their good intentions, and their laughter with us.  I asked each of the authors if they had letters from teenagers that they couldn’t throw away because “it was a piece of a child’s soul and a person can’t throw away a soul.”  My request resonated with so many, so Dear Author: Letters of Hope was born.

Each author was asked to send me five to ten letters (though many exceeded that number), and I wrote a composite letter that protected the identities of each and every writer while attempting to capture the voice of a single child.  The overriding themes contained in these letters written by kids were two very powerful ones:  Your book SAVED my life, and I didn’t know that anyone else existed who knew me!  Authors were then asked to write a “letter of hope” to the child so that their wisdom and writing talent could reach kids who are hurting.

Kathy: This question seems superfluous, but I’ll ask it, anyway:  Tell us why we should buy this book.

Joan: Reading (and writing) are healthy escapes until a person is able to or old enough to address her or his pain.  For those who like what a particular author has to say, information about the author, annotations of three of his or her books, and a website address is included.

Kathy: Who or what has been the greatest inspiration for your stories?

Joan: Chris Crutcher, Beatrice Sparks, and Laurie Halse Anderson

Kathy: )  ’Nuff said.  You have the chance to give one piece of advice to teen readers.  What is that?

Joan: Read.

Kathy: I love how you get straight to the heart of the matter, Joan!  What’s an important “nugget” that you’d like readers to take away from your book?

Joan: Books save lives.  There’s hope in a book.

Kathy: Like I said, you really get right to the heart of things!  Why did you choose this topic?

Joan: Twenty-five percent of today’s teenagers have inordinate emotional baggage beyond the normal angst of adolescence.  This led to my pairing literacy experts with therapists which resulted in a second series of books for which I am series editor:  Using Literature to Help Troubled Teenagers Cope with [Various] Issues.

The idea for this six-volume series—addressing family issues, identity issues, social issues, end-of-life, health, and abuse issues—came while I, myself, was going to a therapist to help me deal with the loss of a loved one.  My therapy revealed that I was a “severe trauma survivor” and I had to process the emotions of a bad period of time during my childhood.  I was amazed that a trauma of my youth could be triggered by an emotional upset in my adult life.  After an amazing breakthrough that occurred after extensive reading, writing, and talking, I looked at my therapist and said, “My God!  I’m like the gifted child with the best teacher.  What about all of those children who survive situations worse than mine and do not choose education or reading as their escape of choice?”  I began to wonder about the huge number of troubled teenagers who were not getting the professional treatment they needed?  I pondered about those adolescents who are fortunate enough to get psychological treatment but are illiterate.  Finally, I began to question if there were ways to help them while also improving their literacy development.

Kathy: That’s beautiful, Joan.  And that’s why you write for young people?

Joan: So they don’t have to wait for a mid-life crisis to address their situations.

Kathy: Do you have a favorite quote or bumper sticker?

Joan: Make the world a bit better or more beautiful because you have lived in it.

Kathy: I think you’ve followed that quote.  What are you working on now?

Joan: Another volume of Adolescent Literature as a Complement to the Classics

Kathy: Cool!  And finally, why should kids read books when there are so many other things to do?

Joan: It’s a healthy escape while they’re still in adolescence.

Kathy: Definitely!  Thanks so much, Joan, for your time and your contribution.  Please visit Joan’s website –http://www.coedu.usf.edu/kaywell/ — and I encourage everyone to go get a copy of DEAR AUTHOR: LETTERS OF HOPE!

Joyce Moyer Hostetter Interview

Here are three get-under-your-skin kind of books that make some tough subjects (polio, post traumatic stress syndrome, leprosy) very approachable.  In fact, they’re so heart-warming, you’ll want more.  And, fortunately, Joyce Moyer Hostetter is writing more books in her engaging voice right now!  I happen to know there’s one set in the town of my alma mater, Williamsburg, VA and I’m so looking forward to it.  This woman can WRITE!!  Let’s hear from Joyce herself . . .

Kathy:  First, why do you write?

Joyce: Ummmm – I love stories. And words.  Besides:

• I’m my own boss.  (except when my editor asks for changes)
• I don’t have to punch a clock. (except when I’m on a deadline)
• I can work in my pajamas (except when I do author events)

Kathy:  Ha!  Great response!  Can you tell us how BLUE came to be published?

Joyce: I signed up for a history writing workshop with Editor, Carolyn Yoder.  Before the workshop she gave an assignment to research some historical event from “my backyard”. I discovered a 1944 polio epidemic and created a fictional character (Ann Fay Honeycutt) who was hit by the epidemic. Carolyn liked it, mentored my writing, and just like that, Calkins Creek published the book. Well, actually, many revisions and nearly 4 years later.

Kathy:  Hmm, your own backyard . . . how much of your book is autobiographical?

Joyce: In general BLUE is infused with the feeling I have about life in rural North Carolina. But I wasn’t here (or anywhere) during the polio epidemic so the story isn’t mine. Of course my experiences inform the story.  Just like Bobby Honeycutt, my brother used to say, “Good night. Sleep tight. Don’t let the bedbugs bite.” And oh boy, do I know about working in the family garden!  I also have a wisteria mansion in my field. Little stuff like that came straight out of my life but the events of the story? Not so much.

Kathy:  And the little stuff is what makes it so authentic.  Tell us why we should buy this book.

Joyce: If you know anyone who had polio, BLUE validates their story.  Buy it for young people because it opens dialogue with older relatives. Buy it for the classroom because it’s an engaging way to learn history. Buy it because there are plenty of other people buying Twilight. Oh, and have you noticed that epidemics are still a relevant topic?

Kathy:  Great!  What about the sequel?

Joyce: Actually, after I finished BLUE, Ann Fay kept talking. So I wrote while she dictated. Turns out, life with a disability took some getting used to. And her father’s post-war trauma?  Not good.  No wonder she needed to talk!  Anyway, COMFORT was published in March ’09 and BLUE fans seem to like it as much or more than BLUE itself. (Whew! That’s a relief.)

Kathy:  And that’s quite an accomplishment!  So, we know you’re a talented and successful author, what’s an embarrassing story about yourself that you don’t mind telling?

Joyce: Ha! Tell your own embarrassing story . . . . OK! OK! Once, when I spoke to a school PTA, I tripped up the steps going onto the platform. I could feel that the audience was embarrassed for me until I joked about it halfway through my speech. Then we all relaxed. I should have thrown the joke in sooner.

Kathy:  Oh, gosh, I have a long history of doing that!  What are you working on now?

Joyce: A novel about a contemporary teen whose senior project inspires a road trip with her grandfather.  They visit the sites where he served our country as a WWII conscientious objector. So it’s a hybrid of contemporary and historical fiction, told in alternating viewpoints. A fun writing challenge!

Kathy: Sounds rich and beautiful!  Why should kids read books when there are so many other things to do?

Joyce: Because books are friends who are always there for you.

Kathy:  :o)  Thank you, Joyce! Please visit Joyce at her website and blog: http://joycemoyerhostetter.blogspot.com/ and http://joycemoyerhostetter.com You’ll get a sense of her style, voice, and books, and you’ll love it!

Jennifer Elvgren Interview

I LOVE this book — every child should have it.  It’s heartwarming, empowering, and if you want children to have some understanding of other cultures, grab JOSIAS, HOLD THE BOOK!  A former print journalist, Jennifer Elvgren’s children’s fiction has appeared in Highlights for Children, Ladybug, and Spider magazines. Her picture book, Josias, Hold the Book, is on numerous state reading lists, is a Bank Street College Best Books of 2007 selection, a recipient of the Growing Good Kids Excellence in Children’s Literature Award and a recipient of the 2007 Américas Award for Children’s and Young Adult Literature. Gatherin’ Up the Mountain will be published in the April 2010 issue of Spider.

Kathy: Why did you write JOSIAS, HOLD THE BOOK?

Jenn: My husband and I have been sponsoring children in Haiti through The Baptist Haiti Mission since we have been married. One day, I received a newsletter from the mission, which talked about a day in the life of a Haitian school child. The letter used the phase, “Hold the Book,” which means go to school. I was intrigued. I began wondering, Who’s not holding the book? Why? How can that person hold the book? A story was born. All the characters in the book – Josias, Chrislove, Marc, Nataline, and Philienne – are all named for children we have sponsored or were sponsoring at the time. I’m pleased to announce that the real Nataline graduated from elementary school last year. She reads, writes and has excellent math skills. She plans to continue her education.

Kathy: Yay, Nataline!!  And as an author, you’ve got to love the phrase, “Hold the book.”  Can you tell us how you came to be published?

Jenn: I have always loved children’s books. I have lugged my own childhood books with me every time I have moved. Because of this passion, during graduate school, I took a children’s writing class as an elective. I wrote several things at the time, but filed them away in the desk. After graduate school, I spent many years writing business stories and features stories for newspapers and magazines. After my first child was born, I was inspired to focus more on children’s writing. I had no connections in the children’s writing world. So I joined a critique group and the Society of Children’s Writers and Illustrators (SCBWI), I took another children’s writing class at the University of Virginia, I attended every children’s writing conference that I possibly could, and I read hundreds of picture books from the library (and still do). More importantly, I wrote and wrote and wrote. Then I revised and revised and revised. I endured many rejections, (and still do) but I persevered and kept sending manuscripts until I sold my first story to Highlights for Children.

Kathy: Yup, perseverance is key.  When do you write?

Jenn: I write from 4:30 a.m.ish until 6:30 a.m.ish

Kathy: OK, THAT is perseverance!  What helps you write?

Jenn: A quiet house and TONS of Diet Coke. Not Diet Pepsi. Well, only in an absolute emergency.

Kathy: )  Where do you write?

Jenn: I write in a downstairs office. My computer faces a window that overlooks our barn and the neighbor’s pond. It’s very serene and quiets my mind. However, it’s pretty dark in the morning at this time of year.

Kathy: LOTS of Diet Coke on these mornings!  How do your ideas come to you?

Jenn: Coming from an aforementioned journalism background, I get sparked from newspaper and magazine stories. My husband and I are also HUGE history geeks. I’m talking we were among the first to rush down to Colonial Williamsburg to see the reconfigured entrance hall in the Governor’s Palace after the last renovation. So I also get sparked from all the reading and touring that we do. One aspect of children’s writing is giving your characters universal problems with which your readers will identify. I volunteer weekly in my children’s elementary school. The children spark me with their conversations.

Kathy: Speaking of conversation sparkers, do you have a favorite quote or bumper sticker?

Jenn: I have had a fascination with Helen Keller since first grade. My grandmother fed my interest and bought me every book about her that was out at the time. Helen Keller’s story is such an inspiration to me. I love this quote from her, “The best and most beautiful things in the world cannot be seen or even touched – they must be felt with the heart.”

Kathy: Oh, I love that, too!  Now from the sublime to the . . . embarrassing.  What’s an embarrassing story about yourself that you don’t mind telling?

Jenn: Let’s just say, I’m not the most technically minded. A few nights ago, I pulled the car into the garage, and noticed an odd blinking red light reflecting on the car’s window. I couldn’t tell where the light was coming from and called to my husband, “There’s something wrong with the car! There’s something wrong with car!” After close inspection, he pulled my cell phone out of the cup holder and said, “Here’s your blinking red light problem.”

Kathy: And that’s why we’re writers. We can put those experiences to good use!  What are you working on now?

Jenn: I always have several manuscripts in various stages going, from humorous to historical from picture book to narrative nonfiction. Recently, I’ve been reading about Ellis Island. My great-grandmother America LoBouno Coccaro arrived there on March 10, 1904, aboard the Konigin Luise from Naples. She was six-years-old. I have some ideas swirling in my mind. I’m waiting for them to firm up before I start a draft. Although America died before I was born, I feel connected to her through cooking. I make her red sauce. I don’t grow and can my own tomatoes like she did, but I can get it pretty close. The sauce takes eight hours to cook, but it is sooooooooo worth the wait!

Kathy: Mmm, sounds yummy–both the sauce and the book! Why should kids read books when there are so many other things to do?

Jenn: I think that kids should read because it opens up new worlds for them. These worlds can inspire them to dream new dreams about their own lives as well as help them to empathize with others who may be facing hardships that are unfamiliar to them.

Kathy: And thank you for giving us that in JOSIAS, HOLD THE BOOK.  Thanks for the interview, too, Jenn,and I’ll look for your story in this April’s Spider, not to mention the many more books that will be coming from you!

Jacqueline Jules Interview

Jacqueline Jules is the author of fourteen children’s books, including Sarah Laughs (a 2009 Sydney Taylor Honor Award winner), No English (a DE Diamonds Booklist and TN Volunteer State Award nominee), The Hardest Word, The Princess and the Ziz, Unite or Die: How Thirteen States Became a Nation, Benjamin and the Silver Goblet, and Duck for Turkey Day. Her poetry and prose have appeared in over sixty publications including Highlights, Cricket, Cicada, Spider, Ladybug, and Stories for Children. She won the Arlington Arts Moving Words Contest in 2007, Best Original Poetry from the Catholic Press Association in 2008, and SCBWI Magazine Merit Poetry Award in 2009.

Kathy: Love this new book, Jackie!  Can you tell us why you wrote Duck for Turkey Day?

Jackie: I wrote Duck for Turkey Day because I was a school librarian in a school with a large population of English as a Second Language learners. My students came from over sixty different countries. And on Thanksgiving, when I read stories about eating turkey and stuffing, they weren’t able to connect. My students told me that they ate traditional holiday foods from their birth countries on Thanksgiving, not turkey or cranberries. This got me thinking about my own childhood. My father was an immigrant who came to the United States in his mid-thirties. He didn’t particularly like turkey. It was an American food he never ate growing up in Switzerland. So on Thanksgiving, we often had duck or goose. It made me feel a little different from my classmates. I used those feelings to write my story about Tuyet, a Vietnamese-American girl who thinks her family is breaking the “rules for Thanksgiving” by preparing her grandmother’s special duck recipe from Vietnam.

Kathy: Tell us why we should buy this book.

Jackie: A September 21^st review of Duck for Turkey Day, in Publisher’s Weekly said it was “A lighthearted reminder about multicultural traditions during the holidays.”  There are no other picture books I know of which validate the Thanksgiving traditions of immigrants. Families who were born in other countries come together to give thanks for each other and for America on Thanksgiving. But don’t always eat turkey and stuffing. Not everyone celebrates the same way and Duck for Turkey Day reflects the wonderful diversity of our country. Please visit my website to see a short video trailer to get a sense of the book and the illustrations by Kathryn Mitter. http://www.jacquelinejules.com/duck2.htm

Kathy: That’s an important message. Who or what has been the greatest inspiration for your stories?

Jackie: My greatest inspiration for my books have been my students. Many of my books have grown out of my experiences with the children I have taught in my fifteen years as a teacher and librarian.

My book, No English, http://www.jacquelinejules.com/NoEnglish.htm was inspired by a beautiful brown-haired girl who visited my library every afternoon to check out Spanish library books. Every day, she would smile sweetly, shake her head and say “No English.” I wrote that book as a way of reaching out to her in spite of our language barriers.

My book, Unite or Die: How Thirteen States Became a Nation, http://www.jacquelinejules.com/unite.htm began as a short skit I wrote for my students to perform on Constitution Day.

In March, my first chapter book, Zapato Power: Freddie Ramos Takes Off will be released. The character of Freddie was written for all the little boys who begged me for a book about a superhero.

Kathy: When do you find time to write?

Jackie: I write every available moment I have. In the evenings after teaching, and all of my days off from my job as a teacher. I recently changed my teaching schedule so I would have more time to write. I teach three days a week instead of five. On my writing days, I work as hard or even harder than my days at school. I start around 8:30 in the morning and try to work till bedtime if I can. Of course, I will take breaks for meals and for a walk if the weather is nice. But I do my best to write as many hours as I can on my days off from teaching.

Kathy: Where do you write?

Jackie: I do most of my writing in my upstairs office at home. However, I also write on my walks, particularly poetry. I carry a little notebook in my pocket to record ideas.

Kathy: What helps you write?

Jackie: Time is very helpful. Putting a manuscript away for several weeks and then coming back to it with a fresh eye helps me improve my stories. Comments from my critique group are also invaluable. I’ve dedicated Zapato Power to my critique group. Their comments really helped shape that book, which I wrote over a period of three years, expanding it from an easy reader to a chapter book.

Kathy: Aw, that is so sweet, and I’m sure they appreciate you, too.  How long have you been writing?

Jackie: I’ve been writing for as long as I can remember. I declared my desire to be an author in elementary school and I have been writing stories and poems ever since.

Kathy: Do you have a favorite quote or bumper sticker?

Jackie: One of my favorite quotes comes from Martha Washington who said,

“The greatest part of our happiness depends on our dispositions, not our circumstances.”

Kathy: I sure agree with that one! What’s an embarrassing story about yourself that you don’t mind telling?

Jackie: As a teenager, I worked as a waitress in a seafood restaurant. Once, I waited on a table of twelve people who all ordered shrimp cocktails. I carried a huge tray of shrimp cocktails to their table, but I was walking too fast, and there was a slippery spot on the floor. Well, I think you can guess what happened…. Ooops!

Kathy: I’m cringing for you!  :o)  What are you working on now?

Jackie: As always, I have several projects cooking. I put one thing down to let it rest and start on something else or go back to an older piece to do revisions. I am always working on something. There are not enough hours in the week for all the writing I wish I could do.

Kathy: Why should kids read books when there are so many other things to do?

Jackie: In a book I read over the summer, called Readicide, the author Kelly Gallagher eloquently describes how reading books provides “imaginative rehearsals” for life. I totally agree. All my life, reading has given me the opportunity to experience worlds and characters I would not otherwise have met. Through books, I have learned to understand my family members better, my world, and myself. When you read, you must be an active participant. You must imagine the character and what he or she is experiencing. It makes your mind work in ways that film and other types of media doesn’t. As Thomas Jefferson said on the mousepad I keep by my computer, “I cannot live without books.”

Kathy: “Imaginative rehearsals”–absolutely! Anything else you’d like to add?

Jackie: Please visit me at www.jacquelinejules.com I’d love to hear from you.

Kathy: Thanks, Jackie!  Learn more about Jackie and her books at her website.

Simon Rose Interview

My guest today is Canadian children’s author Simon Rose. His novels include The Doomsday Mask, The Heretic’s Tomb, The Emerald Curse, The Clone Conspiracy, The Sorcerer’s Letterbox, and The Alchemist’s Portrait. He’s also a contributing author to The Complete Guide to Writing Science Fiction: Volume One and founded the almost legendary networking group Children’s Authors and Illustrators on Facebook. Thank you, Simon!  Here’s what Simon has to say about his work.

Kathy:  Welcome, Simon. Let’s begin by learning a little about your books.

Simon: My books are in the science fiction and fantasy genre for middle grades, around ages eight to twelve. You can see full details of each of them, including excerpts and synopses (and you can even listen to recording of my readings) at the Books page at simon-rose.com. The Alchemist’s Portrait is a time-travel story, in which Matthew journeys through the centuries using magical paintings which act as doorways into the past, in order to save the world from the clutches of an evil alchemist. The Sorcerer’s Letterbox, another time-travel tale, is based on the famous mystery of the Princes in the Tower about Edward V and his brother Richard, Duke of York, who were supposedly murdered on the orders of Richard III in 1483. The Clone Conspiracy is a science fiction thriller involving clandestine laboratories and secret experiments, while The Emerald Curse, based on my own reading of comic books while growing up, concerns Sam’s adventures in a bizarre, and at times deadly, superhero universe. The Heretic’s Tomb is set in the medieval period once again, this time during the Black Death in 1349.
My latest novel, The Doomsday Mask, was published in the spring. It’s once again for ages 8–12 and in the science fiction and fantasy genre. It’s a fast-paced adventure about ancient civilizations, mysterious artifacts, and shadowy secret societies.

Kathy:  How long have you been writing books for children?

Simon: One of the best things about writing for kids is that I can write about the kinds of things that fascinated me when I was young. Stories can be very imaginative if they are for children, which makes writing them so much fun. And, of course, in science fiction or fantasy, more or less anything you can imagine is possible, as you craft stories involving ancient mysteries, the unexplained, the paranormal, science fiction, time travel, parallel universes, alternate realities, weird and wonderful characters, and a multitude of “what if” scenarios.
Once I had children of my own, I came into contact with children’s books again for the first time in many years. Picture books initially, of course, but then early chapter books and novels. When I decided to try my hand at writing novels and stories, I found myself drawn to the types of things I used to read as a child. I read lots of science fiction, as well fantasy writers and ghost stories while growing up. I also read a tremendous number of comic books, in which the stories took me across the universe, into strange dimensions, into the land of the Norse gods or had me swinging from the New York rooftops. At high school, I studied a lot of history and have retained my interest in the subject up to the present day. I also read voraciously on ancient civilizations, mysteries, the supernatural, and the unexplained.

Kathy:  Do you offer school and library visits?

Simon: Yes, I offer a wide range of presentations, workshops, and author-in-residence programs for schools and libraries. I cover such topics as where ideas come from, story structure, editing and revision, character development, time-travel stories, history, and research. You can learn more about them here and I offer study guides for all the books.
I also conduct virtual author visits via video using the Skype network, and you can get some idea of how it works from my videos on YouTube.

I also offer workshops for adults, both in person and online, as well as online workshops for children, which are proving very popular. I did a lot of work in summer camps this year, some of which you can learn about here. In addition, here in Calgary I work as a writing instructor with home school children, the local school board’s continuing education program, the University. I am also an instructor with the National Writing for Children Centre and will be presenting at schools libraries in the UK as part of the Off the Shelf Festival of Writing and Reading this fall.

Kathy:  What are you working on now?

Simon: I have another completed novel on a paranormal theme which I am seeking a home for, if there are any interested editors and publishers reading this. I’m working on a number of editing projects for other writers, have numerous projects of my own for future novels, and I am collaborating on several picture books with a local illustrator. In addition to novel writing, I offer copywriting services for business, such as editorial content for websites. I have a few of those types of projects, as well as upcoming articles for magazines and online publications on a wide variety of topics, such as the articles written for Dark Roasted Blend on a bewildering variety of incredible and fantastic topics You can search or my articles on the Dark Roasted Blend home page. 
I’m also involved in a large local event on November 14, 2009 called the Calgary Children’s Book Fair and Conference.

Kathy:  Any advice for aspiring children’s writers?

Simon: Writing is in some ways the easy part. It can be a very long process not only to write a book, but also to get it published. A book is a marathon measured in years rather than weeks or months. Don’t be afraid to revise and revise over and over again. Most authors go through many revisions before their work reaches its final format. Remember, too, that your book will never be to everyone’s taste, so don’t be discouraged. A firm belief in your own success is often what’s necessary. After all, if you don’t believe in your book, how can you expect other people to?

Read as much as you can and write as often as you can. Keep an ideas file, even if it’s only a name, title, sentence, or an entire outline for a novel. You never know when you might get another piece of the puzzle, perhaps years later. You also mustn’t forget the marketing. You may produce the greatest book ever written. However, no one else is going to see it if your book doesn’t become known to potential readers. Be visible as an author. Do as many readings, signings, and personal appearances as you can. Get your name out there and hopefully the rest will follow. Especially for newly published authors, books don’t sell themselves and need a lot of help.

Kathy:  Where can readers find out more about you and your books?

Simon: Autographed copies of my books are always available from me directly, but they are also available at all the usual places such as Amazon, Barnes and Noble, and many other places online — and details can be found for each book here. You can also easily order any of the novels from your local bookstore if they don’t have copies on the shelf. You can stay up-to-date with me and my work by visiting my author site and blog, connecting as a friend on Facebook, joining Children’s Authors and Illustrators on Facebook or my own groups for each of the novels or following me Twitter.

Thank you, Simon!  You’re an inspiration to all of us with the wonderful work you do, including online and face-to-face promotion.  Well done!

Valerie Patterson Interview

OK, this is the most uncanny thing . . . this book actually feels blue.  The words, the tone, somehow infuse the book with blue and it just becomes blue.  I don’t know how to explain it — you really have to read this book and experience it for yourself.  I am in awe!

Kathy: Can you tell us how this book came to be published?

Valerie: THE OTHER SIDE OF BLUE is my first novel to be published.  It is not the first novel I’ve written.  This book has been published because Sarah Davies, founding agent of Greenhouse Literary, saw potential in it and worked with me before submission.  It’s also published because editor Jennifer Wingertzahn at Clarion Books saw something in Cyan’s story that touched her.  Before either Sarah or Jennifer saw the book, however, my critique group offered suggestions, and my writing class at Hollins University also saw the raw early chapters.  While I wouldn’t say writing takes a village, I would say publishing certainly does.

Kathy: I agree.  Tell us why we should buy this book.

Valerie: If you’ve ever been frustrated by a parent, you may appreciate exploring the sometimes-difficult mother-daughter relationship between Cyan and her mother.

Kathy: Who or what has been the greatest inspiration for your stories?

Valerie: Setting, I think, not just the physical landscape but the emotions and stories that grow out of place.  I grew up on the Florida panhandle and I think the Gulf of Mexico serves as inspiration.  The history of my own family, which settled in the longleaf pinewoods of Florida/Alabama in the 1800s, sparked the idea for a novel.

Kathy: Val, what’s one piece of advice you’d like to give teen readers.

Valerie: Discover what you’re passionate about and don’t let it go.  Pursue your dream even if you have to get a “day job.”

Kathy: Good one!  What’s an important “nugget” that you’d like readers to take away from your book?

Valerie: That hope matters.

Kathy: And why did you write this book?

Valerie: The inspiration for THE OTHER SIDE OF BLUE comes from my artistic yearnings, the desire to be able to translate the natural world onto canvas.  But I am completely ungifted as a visual artist.  I’ve admired my mother’s artwork and my sister-in-law’s.  I’d even say the most intense envy I ever felt involved another person’s talent in drawing botanical illustrations.   That yearning combined with loss somehow translated into this novel, which is about coming to terms not only with other people in our lives—with all their foibles and faults—but our own sense of purpose and meaning.

Kathy: Generally speaking, why do you write?

Valerie: I write to understand, and I identify with Melanie Rae Thon when she said:

“In our desire to understand, in the constant movement between ourselves and others, we may find redemption.” Melanie Rae Thon, as quoted in Letters to a Fiction Writer, edited by Frederick Busch.

Kathy: When do you write?

Valerie: Not often enough!  Seriously, when I’m working intensely and at my best, I work in the evenings after my “day job” and on weekends.  That constant writing also means that my subconscious is writing even when I’m away from the keyboard, and that aspect is critical.  It’s amazing how much writing you get done away from the keyboard.  Not that that fact is an excuse to avoid butt-in-chair, the best advice a writer can absorb.

Kathy: Where do you write?

Valerie: I write best at my computer in my home office, without distraction.  But often being there is a luxury, as I have a full-time outside job.  So I write longhand in snatches—airplanes are good for that.

Kathy: What helps you write?

Valerie: Coming to the computer knowing what I am going to work on is crucial for me to avoid blanking out.  Caffeine is added comfort, I confess.  If things are going rough, popcorn helps, too.  J

Kathy: I’m with you on the caffeine!  How do your ideas come to you?

Valerie: Sometimes an opening line in a particular voice that is not my own comes to me, and I start writing to see where it takes me.  Sometimes I start a book with the final scene in mind, and I’m essentially writing to see how the characters end up at that point.

Kathy: How long have you been writing?

Valerie: I’ve been writing on and off since I was in elementary school.  During law school and the five or so years after I graduated and began my career, I didn’t write creatively.  But I found I could not abandon writing, and I gradually regained my creative life.

Kathy: How much of your book is autobiographical?

Valerie: Of THE OTHER SIDE OF BLUE, not much, frankly, except a love of the sea and art.  My mother and I never had the type of relationship Cyan and her mother had.  Even so, I think the mother-daughter relationship is often difficult, and sometimes we don’t know the other person, not really.  That’s one thing about fiction that speaks to people—it truly allows you to understand another person intimately, even if that person is fictitious.

Kathy: Do you have a favorite quote or bumper sticker?

Valerie: It’s a quote my friend Ellen introduced me to:  “Chance favors the prepared mind,” by Louis Pasteur.

Kathy: Nice choice, Val (and Ellen!).  So, what’s an embarrassing story about yourself that you don’t mind telling?

Valerie: I turn purple when I speak in public.  There, I’ve said it.

Kathy: Thank you, we will all look for that.  (Kidding!)  Is there a sequel?

Valerie: No.  The book I’m working on now is completely different.

Kathy: What are you working on now?

Valerie: My current work-in-progress is about the intense friendships we make in adolescence and how they often substitute for family ties.  And, just maybe, they end up making those family ties stronger later, if not immediately.

Kathy: Tell us, why should kids read books when there are so many other things to do?

Valerie: Because no other medium—perhaps except prayer—can reach you so deeply inside.  Wherever you are, whatever your background, books at once can set you free and help you understand your world and yourself.  I believe the very best fiction speaks a universal truth to each of us.

Kathy: Beautifully said.  Thank you, Val, and thanks for this wonderful book.  THE OTHER SIDE OF BLUE – in bookstores and online now!

Here’s Val’s website:  www.valerieopatterson.com and Val will be speaking on a panel at the Mid-Atlantic SCBWI conference next month in Arlington, VA.