From Start to Finish with Children's Books: Author Interview with Kerry McQuaide

You are the author of a delightful series for pre-school children that feature the adventures of Midge and Moo. Who or what inspired you to write about these two characters?
There is a real “Midge” the books are based on. She was two and half years old (ten years ago!) and always carried her toy bear. But because kids are funny and have their own ideas about the world, she insisted he was a cow and called him Moo.

If she put him down for even a minute, she would ask, “Where’s Moo?” It became a favorite game, and that was the original inspiration for the peek-a-boo books, Lost in the Garden and Moo is Missing. But Midge and Moo took on a life of their own. I was fascinated with how kids could imbue a toy or a blanket with so much courage, love, and personality. Moo gives Midge the confidence she needs to explore, learn, and grow.

Did you try the traditional route of seeking a publisher and/or agent to market your book? When did you decide to self-publish your own imprint?
Before self-publishing was a viable option, I did submit my books to agents. I had two manuscripts accepted and shopped around to publishers. But at the time, the financial crisis was in full swing and there was a lot of uncertainty in the publishing world. I waited months and months in between each submission to the publishers. Submitting to three or four publishers took eighteen months, so a lot of time went by! At the same time, I was hearing stories of editors leaving their publishing houses, leaving authors who had signed with them orphaned—so to speak—when a new editor with different preferences took over. I also knew that if my manuscripts were sold, there was no guarantee that they would allow me to illustrate my own stories.

What happened next?
The uncertainty, the waiting, the lack of control—there was nothing about the process that suited me!
Then all of a sudden, Kindle tipped, and authors started making real money self-publishing. There were the wild success stories, like Amanda Hocking, but there were also a flood of mid-list authors who were making enough money to write full time. (I think that’s something that most people don’t know—many traditionally published authors still have full-time or part-time jobs doing something besides writing to pay the bills.)

The technology developed over the last few years and the distribution channels became available and affordable for children’s books. By 2015, everything was in place to make it possible, and I decided to become an indie publisher.

I know that there is still a lot of unnecessary vitriol between some advocates of traditional publishing and some advocates of indie publishing. I think each author has to know themselves, their strengths, and their preferences. Then they have to know the landscape—copyright, contracts, and the financial reality of their specific situation—and then decide for themselves.

If you do self-publish, I think you have to see yourself as a publisher. You have to do all the things a publisher does with the same level of professionalism and excellence.

Who helped you polish your story? Are you active in any writing critique groups?

I am part of several author groups, a member of SCBWI, I have a group of friends and moms who beta read for me, and I hire freelance editors.

Tell me about the indie-pub process for you. Were you overwhelmed in trying to learn everything about publishing from print format to cover design and marketing?
The process is not easy, but five years ago it was not even possible. I am grateful we now have access to the technology and distribution channels that allow me to create and sell my work. I write, illustrate and format all my books myself. I graduated from Parsons School of Design with my BFA, and over the years I have worked as a graphic designer, a website designer, and a marketing manager. I use all of those skills and more as an indie publisher!

I use the Adobe suite—Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign—for the print layout and EPUB conversion for iBooks, Kobo and the other digital retailers. I use the Kindle Kid’s Book Creator for the MOBI files for Amazon. The technology is still in flux. But I love it. I love the creative control. And again—things change so quickly—you need to be flexible and willing to try new things.

How did you go about choosing your marketing plan?

My marketing plan is a constant experiment.

I just signed a deal with an App developer, who is going to use my Midge and Moo characters to develop content based on the books. Their educational App is downloaded in 89 countries, so it is both an income stream and a way for me to reach new audiences. They found my books not through Amazon or another bookseller but through my Instagram feed (https://www.instagram.com/kerrymcquaide/). So I would definitely recommend trying different things—marketing by trial and error.

Why did you choose to write for children?

I have always loved the way words and images work together to tell stories—picture books, comic books, and even the funny pages in the Sunday paper. I love Shel Silverstein and Charles Schulz. I thought there was magic in that kind of storytelling, but (I think like a lot of people) I was told that wasn’t a realistic way of making a living. So I worked in web design and marketing full-time and then freelance.

But I continued to read children’s books and to sketch and write stories. I found myself sketching and planning book after book in my spare time. I have drawers and filing cabinets full of stories that I ill probably never publish.

What are some of the promotions that you’ve done for the book that have been the most successful?
Price promotions and discounts have been some of my most success ways to reach new readers. Right now, A Day with Moo, the first book in The Adventures of Midge and Moo series is free on iBooks, Kobo, and Kindle. In the back of the book, I offer the second book in the series free when you sign up for my mailing list. There are four (soon to be five) more books in the series with coloring books and activity books coming soon as well. If you and your little ones love Midge and Moo after the first two books, then you can keep reading about these two characters.

It is still early in the children’s eBook market. Many people discover Midge and Moo through the free eBook and then order the other books in print. Right now 90% of my total sales are in print and only 10% digital. But I think that will change soon.

When the iPod first came out, Steve Jobs said, “1,000 songs in your pocket.” Very soon your kids will have access to an entire library of picture books at their finger tips. Tablets are so convenient and becoming less expensive and more durable all the time.

What would you tell other authors to avoid?

Avoid the belief that there is one magic bullet that will make your book a success, and avoid anyone who tells you that this is a way to make easy money or passive income! Any promotion you do will give you a boost and expose you to new readers, but the next day you will have to do it all again. And you have to continue creating new stories.

We all know that in art and writing you have to find your own voice. The same is true for marketing. You need to love your readers and do your best to delight them. I approach every promotion with that attitude. I set out to make my readers laugh or brighten their day.

What advice would you give someone who wants to publish their own book?
I learned the hard way that it is very hard to gain traction or attention for one stand alone book. I started with one book called, Dogs Rule! But I didn’t have a follow up book. I had nothing similar for them to read next.

It wasn’t until I had published multiple Midge and Moo books that I gained any momentum. I would say write three or five books (preferably in a series or related to each other in some way) before you publish your first book. It can be painful to wait, but you will have a huge advantage when you do publish.

If you are interested in self-publishing, I would recommend reading the books Write. Publish. Repeat. (The No-Luck-Required Guide to Self-Publishing Success) by Sean Platt and Johnny B. Truant and Successful Self-Publishing (How to self-publish and market your book in ebook and print) by Joanna Penn. These two books provide a great overview of everything involved in actually making a living as an indie author.

What has frustrated you the most in putting your books together?

The most frustrating part of the process is producing different files for the different retailers. iBooks, Kobo, Nook, Kindle, plus subscription services like Overdrive and Oyster—they all have slightly different file requirements, which requires extra production work.

But I was a website designer when all the sites were written by programmers in HTML, then the first web editor was available, then Wordpress templates came along, then services like SquareSpace. It became easier and easier to get very professional looking results. And I think the same kinds of solutions will develop for children’s (fixed format) ebooks.

What has pleasantly surprised you about publishing your books?
The response from readers is amazing! Parents and grandparents, who read my books with their little ones email me thank you notes. I’m hearing from readers on Facebook and Instagram. I am finding out firsthand what people like best about the books. I wasn’t expecting so much reader interaction, but I love it!

What is the writing best advice you’ve been given?
Write more. Don’t get me wrong, I believe in revising and editing and rewriting. But I have learned more from writing ten stories than rewriting the same story ten times.

What message would you like parents and children to take away from this book and future books?
When I read books to my nieces and nephews, we all cuddle on the couch in a pile. It is still magical to me when we all laugh at the same part. Or we read a book for the zillionth time and they ask the same questions over and over. “Is her mom mad at her?” or “Why is she sad?”

They are processing the world they see reflected in the books and the human emotions they experience in their own lives through theses stories. If Midge and Moo can make you and your child laugh at the same moment, or if my stories can help you talk to your child about love, kindness, and friendship, then I am a happy author.

What other books are in process?

Oh, I have so many stories in the works! But the very next book coming out this spring is a Midge and Moo coloring book. I will be hosting a “Coloring Book Extravaganza” giveaway on my Facebook page the month of May 2016: https://www.facebook.com/kerrymcquaidebooks.

Any other thoughts on writing you’d like to add?
Play, experiment, and take risks. Have fun! And share that fun with your readers.

That's all for today's interview. There's a lot of info here. Hope it gives you some new direction in your writing. If you'd like to learn more about Midge and Moo and follow their everyday adventures, here's how to get started... Download your free copy on iBooks, Kobo, or Amazon here: http://kerrymcquaide.com/a-day-with-moo-a-best-friend-book-the-adventures-of-midge-and-moo/
Connect with Kerry on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kerrymcquaide/
or Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/kerrymcquaidebooks

From Romance to Murder: Author Interview with Victoria Thompson

My interview today is with Edgar®  and Agatha Nominated author Victoria Thompson, who writes the Gaslight Mystery Series, set in turn-of-the-century New York City. Her latest, MURDER IN MORNINGSIDE HEIGHTS, is a May 2016 release from Berkley Prime Crime.  She also contributed to the award winning writing textbook MANY GENRES/ONE CRAFT. She teaches in the Seton Hill University master's program in writing popular fiction. 

Your books have now been published for two decades. Why do you have such staying power in creating interest for new readers?  

First, I would love to know why my series has had such staying power, but I can only guess. I’m so fortunate that MURDER IN MORNINGSIDE HEIGHTS is the 19^th book in the Gaslight Mystery Series.  I teach writing in Seton Hill University’s Master’s program, and I tell my students that readers keep reading for the mystery but the come back for the next book because of the characters.  I think Sarah and Frank have really struck a chord with readers who want to visit with them again and again and see what they’ve been up to.  

Your earlier works were romances with steamy covers. What made you switch over to historical mysteries? 

My first 20 published novels were historical romances, but in the late 1990s the romance market changed, and  many writers were let go. I was one of them. Because I had been putting mystery subplots in my romances, my agent knew I could write a mystery, so she encouraged me to give it a try.  I had tried writing contemporary thrillers, which I love to read, but I have determined that my voice and my sensibilities are historical. My contemporary characters were acting too old fashioned!  So historical mystery is just the right fit for me. 

What makes for a successful mystery? 

As to what makes a successful mystery, I’d say you need protagonists who appeal to the reader.  Then you need an interesting crime and a good mix of suspects who all have motive and opportunity. I could write a book about this, and maybe I will someday!

Why do you choose NYC for the backdrop of your mysteries? 

I’ve often told the story of how I came to write the Gaslight Mystery series.  I already said my agent was encouraging me to write a mystery, but I was resisting.  One day she called to tell me that Berkley Prime Crime was looking for someone to write a series set in turn-of-the-century New York with a midwife heroine.  I decided to give it a try and wrote a proposal, so that’s how the series got started.  

What type of research do you do for your books? Tell me about the process. 

My research process is pretty routine. When it’s time to send in a proposal for the next book, I sit down with a bunch of books from my personal library on the history of New York. I skim through until I find something that makes me say, “Wow, I didn’t know that!” If I didn’t know it, I figure most other people don’t either.  Then I start building a story around it.

How much “artistic license” do you use in creating locations for your stories? Has your research ever surprised you in something you discovered? 

I try to be as historically accurate as possible, and the history of New York City is very well documented, so I don’t have any problem learning what I need to know.  Sometimes I fudge a little, but I always confess it in the Author’s Note at the end of the book. And sometimes I just make a mistake and then I apologize to the fans who send me an email to tell me.  My research surprises me all the time.  As I said above, those surprises are the things I end up writing about.

Any surprising responses from your readers?
One of my fans was crushed when Frank and Sarah got married. This surprised me, because so many fans had been begging for this for years.  The fan was concerned that if Frank started a detective agency, Sarah would no longer be involved.  Actually, she’ll be more involved because she doesn’t have to worry about interfering with the police anymore.  So if you were worried about that, don’t be! Sarah is very actively involved in solving the murder in MURDER IN MORNINGSIDE HEIGHTS.

I applaud you for your numerous nominations for the Agatha Award. What made Christie’s writing so special that she is continued to be read? 

Christie was an excellent observer of human nature, and her characters are real enough to resonate with people year after year.  She also writes about the kinds of places real people still live—small towns where everyone knows everyone’s business—and people who have the same problems and concerns that people still have.  No matter how old her books are, human beings are still the same, so her books still speak to us.

You’ve now published 18 books in your Gaslight series? How do you keep the writing fresh after all those stories? How many more books do you think there will be in the series?

I hope I keep the writing fresh.  Sometime’s it’s hard for a writer to know that, but my fans are still pleased, so I’m doing something right, I guess.  I did sort of re-boot the series when Frank and Sarah got married in MURDER ON AMSTERDAM AVENUE.  Frank is now a wealthy man and no longer works for the police department.  Sarah no longer has to work as a midwife.  

I wrote an extra book last year, MURDER ON ST. NICHOLAS AVENUE, which takes place while Frank and Sarah are away on their honeymoon and features all the secondary characters from the series working together in their absence.  Fans loved it, and in this new book, Frank is going to open a detective agency so he can still solve murders, and now it will be easier for him to ask Sarah to  help.  I hope there will be many more books in the series. My publisher says as long as readers buy them, they will keep publishing them, so it’s really up to the fans.

How much time daily do you have for writing? What is your writing routine? 

I’m fortunate to be a full time writer.  In the morning I sit down at my computer and procrastinate by reading the news and scrolling through Facebook. Then I eat lunch. After lunch, I start writing unless I get distracted by something else.  I try to write 5 pages every day.

What type of publicity do you do to promote your book? What has worked best? 

I post on Facebook and Twitter.  I have a mailing list of fans and I keep in touch with them and send them a reminder email when I have a book coming out. I do guest blogs!  I’m not sure writers ever know what kind of promotion works best.

What is the best advice you’ve been given or learned on writing?

 The best advice I’ve been given is to read a lot and to write every day.

  

That's it for today's interview. If you'd like to learn more about Victoria's writing and upcoming books, here's how to get started.

Website: www.victoriathompson.com.     Facebook: Victoria Thompson.Author 

Twitter @gaslightvt.          Amazon: http://amzn.to/1Wm55Am

From Games to Books: Interview with Fantasy Writer, Tom Fallwell

You came from a career as a software developer and programmer. Was there anything in that work that helped you in new career as a writer?
I guess you could say, due to my programming career, that I became accustomed to spending hours on end sitting at my computer. That definitely helps when writing using MS Word.

What drew you to writing fantasy?
I had actually started writing before I began my career as a software developer. Back in the late 80's, when there was a huge boom in the comic industry, I was writing a story for a comic book called Dark Regions. Without financial capital, that venture did not last long and I went into programming. 

I have always wanted to write fantasy and science-fiction stories, always. I have been a fan of the genres ever since I can remember, but it was The Lord of the Rings that really fired up my imagination. The release of the movies recently just spurred that even more. I also spent a lot of time playing Dungeons & Dragons, table top role playing, as a DM or Dungeon Master. I would create adventures for the other players to experience. I have always had a good imagination.

When did you actually start writing your first book?
My first book, Dragon Rising, was something I had in my head for a few years. The idea actually came to me while playing a game. I had created a character for the role playing game, Skyrim, and the idea of the story came to me then. It wasn't until the Spring of 2014 that I decided to start writing it down.

How long did it take to write your first draft?
With Dragon Rising, I was still learning to write a novel. I had never done so before. So I didn't actually write a first draft. I kept revising as I went until I had what I felt was a complete story. I have learned much since then, and now do a complete draft before I go back and start re-writing and revising.

How many re-writes do you think you did?
I changed things many times throughout that first book as I wrote. The central plot never changed, but I went back many times and re-wrote sections, sometimes entire chapters. I really don't remember how many times I did that.

Who encouraged you along the way?

I have a wonderful, long-distance friend who lives in another state from me. She was a great source of encouragement throughout the whole process. The first book is dedicated to her. Her name is Jeri.

Are you active with any writer’s critique groups?

I am active mainly with several author groups on Facebook. They have been a wonderful source of encouragement and inspiration. I recently setup a beta reader group who are now my main critics and help me with my current project. I also have a wonderfully talented editor who has been absolutely essential.

I see one of your early publications was for a short story called A Strong Tower. Did you do this to test the waters as a writer to see if you could sell your stories? 
That was written before any of my novels, and was a spring board to my confidence as a writer. I wasn't sure what I was writing, as I simply began to write down an idea I had. It took on a life of its own and within a few weeks I had a short story. My friends said it was good, so that gave me confidence to begin a full novel. 

Whether or not my stories sell has never been as much of a factor as just the fact that I am writing them. I don't focus on the financials of writing, at least not heavily, but on the pure joy I get from doing it, and the great feeling of accomplishment when someone tells me they liked what I have written. That is the most important part for me.

Each of your books are indie-published. Did you first try the query route with agents and publishers? What type of research did you do before you chose your source to publish?
I spent many hours researching how to submit manuscripts to agents and publishing houses, and on the self-publishing tools and avenues available. I decided to self-publish because I did not want my stories sitting in some agent's inbox, never being read, or being read by one single person and rejected. I wanted my stories available to people who enjoy reading. So, I chose the Indie route and have been absolutely satisfied with that decision.

Other than completing your novels, what was the most difficult aspect of publishing for you? 

The most difficult thing for me is marketing. There is a huge field of writers out there, and getting noticed among them is not an easy task. However, I found they are not my competition.  I actively promote other writers on my website and Facebook account, because we are all in this together. So, I focus more on fun. If sales come, they come and I am pleased. I don't focus on sales over simply enjoying writing and talking with other writers.

What has surprised you the most about getting published other than the joy of seeing your book in print?

My biggest surprise came when my father, who is 86 years old and never reads books, read my book ... and liked it! That was not only a surprise, but an awesome boost to my confidence and joy in writing. Seeing a printed copy of my book was also an awesome experience. Now that A Whisper In The Shadows, my first book in my Rangers of Laerean series, is out as an audio book, it was another fantastic and beautiful experience to hear my story and characters come to life. It was very exhilarating.

What do you know now about publishing that you wish you knew sooner?
I learned a great deal with my first novel, but the main thing was I was not an editor. A writer, yes, but not an editor. There were many mistakes, but the editor I have now helped me correct much of it. I have used him to edit my books ever since. He and I seem to operate on the same wavelength, and work very well together. Finding a good editor and a good cover artist, I believe are essential for someone starting down the self-publishing path. I am still learning more each day.

What’s been your best promotion for selling books?
I have had more success doing events that promote other authors, but I am still getting my feet wet in the realm of promotion. I am in the planning stages for more live events to come, but I also keep doing Facebook events. I have had a great time doing that, and have found many kindred spirits among other indie authors. I will continue learning how to market myself and my books.

What advice would you give someone who wants to indie-publish? What is the best advice you’ve been given or learned?
Indie-Publishing sounds good at first, because people may think there is no cost. That is not the truth. If you intend to self-publish and make money, you are going to have to spend money. For editors, artists, marketing and more. It is not free. With that said, if you simply enjoy writing and sharing with others, without focusing on being financially successful, then you can find a lot of enjoyment and fun with indie-publishing, as I have. However, anyone planning to enter the realm of indie-publishing needs to be aware that there will be costs - both time and money.

What other works do you have in the process?
I am currently working on Book #3 of the Rangers of Laerean series, The Shadow of Narwyrm. This will complete the three-part story I have been telling, but I plan to write more books in the series. Additionally, I am starting a free monthly installment series, exclusively for my mailing list members, that will tell the history of the world in which the Rangers of Laerean takes place. 

I have some ideas for other books and genres besides fantasy. For now, I am focused on The Shadow of Narwyrm and completing the story I started with A Whisper In The Shadows. Some have asked if I any more plans for the characters in my first book, Dragon Rising. I had not planned that, although it is possible I may write another story for those characters in the future.

Any last words you’d like to add?
Just thank you for talking with me and allowing me into your own list of readers.

That's all for today's interview. If you're a fan of fantasy and are looking for a new read, here's how you can find out more about Tom's writing...

Website: http://tomfallwell.com              

Facebook: http://facebook.com/TomFallwellAuthor

You can also subscribe to his mailing list to keep up-to-date on events and book releases, and read The Chronicles of Hir, in free monthly installments.  http://eepurl.com/bSZiwr

His books can be found on Amazon, iTunes, Barnes & Noble, and other online outlets. 

Having Fun with Writing: Author Interview with Mylisa Larsen

What inspired you to write How to Put Your Parents to Bed?  
I think it was just the huge gap between what was apparently supposed to happen at bedtime and the anarchy that seemed to be always breaking out during that time at my house. You know those articles you read in the parenting magazines while waiting in the pediatrician’s office—5 Steps To A Stress-free Bedtime? Those never quite worked at my house.

And I’ve always found The Authoritative Voice—that voice often used in parenting books or the filmstrips you saw in fifth grade—intrinsically funny. So I was goofing off and trying to spoof that voice in my writing one day and somehow it ended up with the kids putting the parents to bed instead of the other way around. Because, let’s be honest, we’re the ones who are tired.

When did you actually start writing your book? How long did it take to write your first draft?
I looked back at when I started writing this book and it was January of 2012. It was a horrible, unpublishable version at that time but that’s when the first draft was written. I wrote it quickly. That’s how it usually works for me. I write terrible drafts quickly and then turning them into anything respectable can take me a long time.

Who encouraged you along the way? 
Who encouraged me? I have a wonderfully encouraging family. I have a writing buddy who I’ve traded things with for years. Without them, I would have given up years ago.

Prior to this picture book, what was your publishing and writing background? 
This is my first picture book so I had no prior experience in this genre. I’d published a magazine article once but that was for adults. I had written for a long time. I was an English major in college. Once I got serious about writing for children, I took some classes at the The Loft in Minneapolis.

Are you active with any children’s writers groups?

I joined SCBWI. And there’s a lovely group of children’s writers and illustrators in Rochester (RACWI) that I also belong to now that I live in upstate New York.

How many submissions did it take before you either found an agent or was accepted by the publisher? What was that process like?
I don’t have the story of the hundreds of rejections, but that’s only because I didn’t submit anything for a long, long time. I promise you, if I had been submitting during the first five years that I was learning to write in the picture book genre, I could have papered my house with rejections. 

I go back and read the stuff I was writing in the beginning and they’re certifiably blush-worthy. Most of us just aren’t that good when we start trying out a new thing and I was certainly no exception.

I did get professional critiques at conferences during all that time but I didn’t submit. Then when I started to get more serious interest during some of the critiques, I started thinking about an agent.

What has frustrated you the most in putting together this book? 
I think it’s a surprise to most of us that there is so much waiting involved even after you sign a book. I think once you accept that this whole thing is going to feel like it’s measured in geologic time, it goes better. Make sure you move on to other things so you’re not just thinking about how long everything is taking.

What has pleasantly surprised you in the process? 
The pleasant surprises are many. First, the people working in children’s publishing are often quite fabulous people. And, lucky you, you get to work with them. And then it’s always interesting to see what each person on the team brings to the book. Your agent with who she thinks would be a good match for the book. Your editor’s ideas about changes. The illustrator’s take. What marketing has to say. And sometimes marketing says “we need to change your title” and you are almost 90% sure that they are wrong and then afterward you have to admit that maybe they were right. So, it’s a collaboration and you won’t always get your way but the book is better for it.

Then after a book is published, you get to hang out with preschoolers and children’s librarians and teachers and book people. Really, what could be better?

What book promotions have been the most successful?
I think it’s too early to say what has been the most successful. The book has been out less than two months and I have things planned all throughout the year. But that is something that the data wonk part of my brain is interested in so last week I had a conversation with the numbers guy that I’m married to about trying to measure that and have a shiny new spreadsheet. I may be able to answer that question later.

I think one of the best things I did was decide to work with Kirsten Cappy at Curious City to come up with a list of promotion possibilities. She had ideas that I never would have had on my own and she had access to resources that I didn’t. So I feel like that decision to collaborate was a good one. She’s done some things on the list and I’ve done others.

Kirsten had a book trailer made, sent copies of the book to bloggers and ran a contest to raise awareness and made up a library kit. And I offered programs to the libraries in my region (which have turned out to be really fun) and sent postcards to area bookstores and even children’s stores which might carry the book as a shower gift, and personally emailed an entirely ridiculous number of librarians to introduce them to the book. And then a group of agency mates who are also debut authors spent a week writing about and promoting the book on their blog when it came out.

And I’ve got a list of other things that I’ll be doing throughout the year. So we’ll see.

What’s the best writing tip you’ve learned or been given that you’d like to share?
I guess it would be one from Ira Glass -- 

“Nobody tells this to people who are beginners, I wish someone told me. All of us who do creative work, we get into it because we have good taste. But there is this gap. For the first couple years you make stuff, it’s just not that good. It’s trying to be good, it has potential, but it’s not. But your taste, the thing that got you into the game, is still killer. And your taste is why your work disappoints you.

 A lot of people never get past this phase, they quit. Most people I know who do interesting, creative work went through years of this. We know our work doesn’t have this special thing that we want it to have. We all go through this. And if you are just starting out or you are still in this phase, you gotta know its normal and the most important thing you can do is do a lot of work. 

Put yourself on a deadline so that every week you will finish one story. It is only by going through a volume of work that you will close that gap, and your work will be as good as your ambitions. And I took longer to figure out how to do this than anyone I’ve ever met. It’s gonna take awhile. It’s normal to take awhile. You’ve just gotta fight your way through."

What other works do you have in the process?
I have a picture book called If I Were A Kangaroo coming out from Viking in 2017. I’ve always got a bundle of picture book manuscripts that I’m working on. And I’m trying to write a middle grade novel which often feels to me like some kind of surgery without anesthesia. It’s getting better. But it’s still at that stage where there’s this huge gap between what I want to do and what I have the skills to do so it’s painful. It’s like learning to write in a foreign language for me.

What message would you like parents and children to take away from your books? 
Well, if you look at my books, you’ll see that I’m not much of a message girl. I love silly. But kids love silly so it works out. I guess the underlying message of silly though is “Isn’t life grand sometimes? Wasn’t that fun?”

Any last words or tips?
Figure out what you need to learn next in your writing and then go find the person who can teach you that thing.

That's it for today's interview. If you would like to learn more about Mylisa's writing, Here's how you can do that.
Website: http://mylisalarsen.com/  Book trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=La30CjVILkQ
Publisher: https://www.harpercollins.com/9780062320643/how-to-put-your-parents-to-bed