Making Learning Fun: Author Interview with Kim Ann

You’ve now published 16 picture books, but what made you decide to start writing the first one? And why did you choose children’s books as your genre?
I have always enjoyed writing and reading. A few years back I began writing magazine articles but wanted to do more. I have a special needs son that loves picture books and so after reading so many books to my own children, I was inspired to write my own children's books.

You have your own publishing imprint, Lucky Four Press, where you publish with another author. How did that collaboration come to be?
Lucky Four Press, LLC, is my publishing company. Three years ago I met another children's book author in a Facebook group. After working together on different aspects of our own separate businesses, we started helping each other. This led to us deciding to write a series of affirmation books together. We publish them under my imprint. Yobe has her own imprint -- byyobeqiu.

Other than writing, what other parts of the process do you personally do? What do you hire others to do?
I am responsible for the sales and marketing of my books. This includes outreach to schools, stores, and libraries. I also do my own shipping and advertising. I have a favorite illustrator, editor, and formatter that I hire to help me.

What tips could you share about choosing an illustrator?
Make sure you outline exactly what you want out of the project. Have the illustrator you choose sign an agreement to the terms beforehand. Look at instagram for #illustrators, as well as reach out to illustrators whose work you already like.

What do you know now about publishing you wished you had known sooner?
So many things. But I wish I understood how much work it is and how much money it will cost upfront to publish a book. Also the importance of hiring a great editor. I used mediocre editors early on and ended up making corrections later down the road.

What is the best writing advice you’ve received or could give?

Whenever possible, write the books readers want to buy and not necessarily what you want to write. There are so many books out there and it is much easier to market if you know your audience from the start.

Are there any other points about writing you would like to add?
When you are first starting out try not to edit or censor yourself in your first draft. Brainstorm your thoughts and ideas before you start to edit. You never know what great material might be in those first drafts.

What is the next book coming out? Can you give me a short synopsis?
The next book is Ten Little Sea Turtles, which is part of my Counting Book Collection. It is a factual story about sea turtles in a fun counting book style. The story begins with hatchlings and follows the turtles along their journey to adulthood. The illustrations are amazing too.

That's all for today's interview.  If you'd like to learn more about her books, here are some links to get you started.

Website: https://authorkimann.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AuthorKimAnn/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/authorkimann/

Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/stores/author/B07R965196

And here's a bonus for my readers, leave a comment on this post and we'll pick one reader who'll receive a signed copy of Ten Little Starfish. So do that now. It can be as simple as I want to be in the giveaway. We'll chose a winner next Tuesday!

Finding Your Writing Groove: Author Interview with Linda Rawlins

You’ve now published 10 books, but what inspired you to write that first one? How long did it take you to write your first book that was published? How many rewrites did you do on it?
I think I’ve always wanted to write. When I was in fifth grade, my teacher had displayed a book that he wrote which was a simple story with stick figures. But that simple book inspired me to begin writing my own book in fifth grade. (I know I completed three chapters of a Nancy Drew type mystery and wish I had saved that work!!)I had already read all of the Nancy Drew and Hardy Boy Mysteries and was working through my grandmother’s library of authors such as Phyllis Whitney, Victoria Holt and Mary Stewart. 

I then went on to win a poetry contest in High School. In college I studied Literature but then went on to medical school. I was not able to return to reading fiction and then writing until MANY YEARS later. (about 25 years). My father had just died but my parents had encouraged me to write and read again. It took about two years to write The Bench. I would write and rewrite excessively until I was encouraged to just simply write the story and edit thereafter.
 
You are a member of Mystery Writers of America and Sisters in Crime critique groups. For those who aren’t active with a writer’s group, what would you tell them about joining one?
There are many writer’s groups and they all offer something different, in different ways. Find one that you like. You can be involved to the point of critiquing each other’s work or simply listen to arranged speakers teaching you how to hone your craft. Some groups are in person and some are on line. 

Experiment with all that are offered and find what works best for you. Some have fees and some don’t. However, keep in mind that none of these groups will publish your book. Some of the groups may hold conferences that have agents and editors as guests. That may offer easier access to submission but you still have to do your own work with writing and editing to your best possible result before you send your work out.
 
How do you go about plotting your mystery? Do you pick the victim or the murderer first? What do you think makes for a perfect murder mystery?
I start with the victim and then choose the killer and the motive. I write mystery, similar to Murder She Wrote where we don’t find out who the killer is until the end of the book.
I have never written a thriller, where the killer is revealed in the beginning, and the chase is on as I don’t want to be in the killer’s mind.
 
What’s the best encouragement you’ve had in your writing?
That would be to keep writing and learning the craft. The old example works here – A brain surgeon is not ready at the end of medical school but only after the first 100 surgeries. Same with writing. Each book should be better and better. I’ve also been told to read a lot of books in the same genre for tips and it does help. I’ve had to get used to writing the story and going back to edit afterward. Once I finish a book, I go back to the beginning and start over. At that point, once I know how the story turns out, I can go back and strengthen the rest of the book.
 

Marketing is the biggest key to getting sales. What is the best marketing source you've used that has produces more sales rather than just clicks?
I think marketing is a combination of things. I do well with Facebook activity but it truly is a culmination of having a presence in the community, at book clubs, on line as well as conferences. It helps to advertise but can get expensive depending on who in incurring the cost.
 
What do you know now about writing you wished you had known sooner?
I wish I had learned sooner to relax, find my groove and simply write. I was so anxious to get things as “right as possible” and try to follow everything I had been told that I had to do, that I didn’t take enough time, earlier on, to simply enjoy my craft and write. Editing will always take place once the story is written.

What is the best writing advice you’ve received or could give?
Write what you want to read and don’t worry about what will be “hot” or trendy.  Just sit and write daily to hone your craft. Spending too much time in meetings, on line, or in a writing community can take a lot of time away from your main purpose which is to write.
 
Are there any other points about writing you would like to add?
It is a marathon, like any other talent. You will learn and continue to develop over years of writing. Learn from others but keep true to yourself.
 

What is the next book coming out? Can you give me a short synopsis?
I have two books scheduled to publish this year. The first is about an author who moves to England to do research for a publisher while writing her own mystery novel. She plans to work with the lead DCI to help with authenticity but doesn’t plan on having sparks fly.

And I plan to release the seventh in the Misty Point Mystery Series. Megan Stanford and her friends become involved with an abandoned amusement park on the Jersey Shore. The goals of their search did not include finding a dead body.

Lastly, what links would you like to be added at the end?
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Misty-Manor-Point-Mystery-Book-ebook/dp/B01HLIJJLO/
Website: http://lindarawlins.com/ 
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/lindarawlinsauthor
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/Lindarawlins/
 
And here's a bonus for my readers... Linda has offered to give away one of her eBooks from the Misty Point Mystery series to 3 readers. Just leave a comment on this post saying which eBook you'd like to win. Then next Friday, we'll pick 3 winners. Make sure you name is in the comment so we can contact you.

Write Now, Proofread Later: Author Interview with Danielle Renee Wallace

When most teens are trying to navigate the ends and outs of high school you wrote and published your first novel. What inspired you to go for that goal? 
Thank you so much for having me on your blog! I really appreciate this exciting opportunity. Writing during high school was so fun but at times it was a challenge! I became an author through a series of random events. My first book grew from a short story I’d penned. I’d written the story for a micro fiction contest, but it hadn’t won. Believe it or not, I’m actually glad I hadn’t succeeded in that event. If I’d won, that story would have never become a book and then a whole series!

It just shows that though something is unpleasant at the time, an even better opportunity may be down the road! By the time I was writing the whole book, I was highly considering turning my plot into a series, but it all came from a short story that was under 1,000 words.
 
How long did it take you to write your first book? How many rewrites did you do on it?
I penned the first chapter of my debut in September of 2017, back when I only intended for it to be a short story. However, I didn’t start writing it as a book until January of the following year. I published my finished book in May, so it took about four months of time! If I recall correctly, my debut went through five drafts.

Are you active in any critique groups? 
I’m not in any official critique groups, but I do have a few people read my book before publication and give me feedback. It helps if they notice any plot holes and occasional mistakes overlooked by my editor. Extra pairs of fresh eyes bring great peace of mind!
 
What is the hardest part of writing for you? 
Occasionally, I hit a slump of exhaustion and writers block halfway through my book, which is difficult to navigate through. However, the prospect of writing the climax usually motivates me to press on. Also, sentence structure/flow is something I’ve struggled with more in the past, but I feel like I’m becoming much more comfortable with it!
 
What’s the best encouragement you’ve had in your writing?
To put it simply, people really encourage me. I’m astounded by how kind so many of them have been to me. Whether I’m talking to everyone at events, or getting messages online, it just really brightens my day and motivates me to never give up!
 
What has surprised you the most in writing/publishing? What frustrated you the most?
As said above, I’m pleasantly surprised at how supportive people are to me! However, one thing that has frustrated me is that because I published young, I think some people didn’t take me seriously at first. I do understand why they’d think that though, since I was only fourteen. At the same time, we shouldn’t let someone’s age limit them. Although I’m still a teen, but I’m out of high school now, I think people see my career more as my job and less as my hobby, which is fantastic!

What do you know now about writing you wished you had known sooner?
I wish I’d proofread even more than I did when I first started out. Now I try to proofread twice before I send in my work to an editor. Reading my work twice helps me catch a lot of mistakes ahead of time, which makes everything smoother! It also gives me a chance to work extra hard on my sentence structure!
 
What is the best writing advice you’ve received or could give?
Here are three that are total game changers for me. Vary your sentence openers. Use your five senses to paint a picture of your scene in your reader’s mind. Avoid using the same word in two back‐to‐back sentences. Synonyms are amazing!

Are there any other points about writing you would like to add?
Don’t overthink your first draft. Just get those words down and proofread later! Also, try to have at least a very basic, overall idea of your plot. You don’t have to map out everything, but knowing some key points will help you not hit writer’s block.
 
What is the next book coming out? Can you give me a short synopsis?
Although I usually publish mystery books and fantasy books, I’m planning to release a standalone Christian fiction titled, Never a Fairy Tale. Fifteen‐year‐old Parker Everson is an atheist who’s just moved across America after his parents’ divorce. At his new school, he meets Grace, a cheerful girl who has a deep assurance in God. While Parker’s been convinced that belief in a divine Creator is belief in a fairy tale, his new friend makes him contemplate further about religion. As Parker finds himself longing to have Grace’s joy, she wants him to share her faith. 

Do you have an eBook you’d like to give to one reader who comments on your interview?
I would love to give away a free copy of my latest release,  ! If you love medieval fantasy set at sea, this book might be just for you! When Soltaria’s life‐threatening secret is revealed, she flees her country, boarding a ship set for a new land—one she isn’t even convinced exists. What’s she hiding? It’s what’s keeps her alive, and it’s something every reader will relate to…

That's all for today's interview. If you'd like to win her eBook, go to her Facebook page and leave a comment saying you'd like to win a copy of her eBook. The winner will be announced on her Facebook page next Tuesday, March 14

If you'd like to learn more about her books and writing updates, check out the sources below.

Website: https://www.daniellereneewallace.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DanielleReneeWallace
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/daniellereneewallace/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@DanielleReneeWallace
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/17699094.Danielle_Wallace

Christmas Stories for Children: Author Interview with Laura Sassi

Today I'm pleased to host Laura Sassi whose work has appeared in Highlights for Children, Cricket, Ladybug and Spider. She's also been featured in Clubhouse and Clubhouse Jr. - two publications of Focus on the Family. She is also the author of the delightful Goodnight Ark (Zonderkidz, 2014) 

How did you come up with the idea of your latest book, Goodnight, Manger?

As a mom, I have tender memories of putting my babies to bed and how hard it was when they were overstimulated or overtired. I also have memories of my sweet daughter playing with the little Baby Jesus that was part of our nativity set. She’d carry him around the house saying things like, “Baby Jesus crying. It’s okay, Baby.”  Then she’d gently feed him or rock him and sing a lullaby. Before listening to her tender play, I’d never thought of Baby Jesus as ever crying. But, he was human (and God) and so he must have cried.  With those sweet sparks of inspiration, I was ready to write my Christmas bedtime story. 

Could you give me a short synopsis on the story for my readers?  

It’s bedtime for baby Jesus, but who knew a stable could be so loud? Mama, Papa, and all of the animals try to lull the baby to sleep, but between itchy hay, angels singing, and three kings bearing gifts, it’s too noisy. Cuddle up as everyone tries working together to shepherd Baby into peaceful dreams. 

What made you decide to do a Christmas themed book?

I wanted to write a fun Christmas-themed book that would center on Christ, rather than Santa, in what has become a very secularized Christmas season. I was not born into a Christian home, so I have a heart for families like mine - and wanted to write a Christmas story that would be fun for anyone to read, but which would point them in the direction of Jesus - the real gift of Christmas.

What are some of your favorite Christmas traditions?

I love Christmas! Our family’s favorite traditions include: picking out the tree for Christmas, making homemade ornaments, baking cookies, reading a snippet of the Christmas story each evening during advent, and caroling in our neighborhood on Christmas Eve (after the children’s service). 

My son, who is now 15, also likes to keep his eyes pried open as best he can so that he and I can stroll into down at 10:30 for the candlelight service that gets out at midnight. I’m not a night person, but I love that he wants to go to church TWICE on Christmas Eve and I cherish this extra mother/son bonding time. It’s quiet as we walk into town and part of our emerging tradition is talking about our faith and God’s wondrous gift of a Savior.  

What’s next?

I am always working on new picture books and I have several at various stages of completion. I’ll leave the details up to your imagination, but let’s just say that some of my new characters include a mouse, some cheese, a lamb, and a hedgehog. Stay tuned for updates.

Any special awards or achievements you’d like to mention?

My first picture book, GOODNIGHT, ARK, also illustrated by Jane Chapman and published by Zonderkidz, was a 2015 Christian Book Award® finalist.  That was exciting.  =)

What’s the best writing tip you’ve learned or been given that you’d like to share?

One of the best tips I’ve learned as a writer of rhyme is to make sure that I have someone else read my pieces out loud. This is an effective way to ensure that the piece I’m working on reads smoothly. It’s a good check against forced rhymes or meter that work only because of faulty pronunciation, misplaced emphasis on a syllable, inverted word order etc.

What do you know now about writing and publishing you wish you had learned sooner?

I wish I had learned sooner that you can’t rush the writing process. Looking back at the earliest manuscripts I sent publishers, it’s no surprise they were rejected!  I wrote and sent them off much too quickly.  Good, multi-layered, rich writing takes time and more rounds of revision than you ever imagined.

I spent TWO years revisiting and revising my first book, Goodnight, Ark before it was fit to float and many, many months revising Goodnight, Manger. That might surprise readers, but I believe that the time and effort spent revising was the key to capturing Zonderkidz’s interest (and hopefully readers’ interests as well).

Any last words or tips?

I’ve found that the long, hard journey to publication just wouldn’t be the same without a nice support system. For me this includes my family, my lovely agent, and the wonderful network of children’s writers I’ve connected with over the years, many of whom have become dear friends and trusted critique partners. So, my parting bit of advice today is to find a writing buddy or two to join you on the journey! I think you will find, as I have, that it makes all the difference. Happy writing!

As a special kick-off to the holiday season, Zonderkidz is offering a hardcover copy of Goodnight, Manger - fresh off the press to one lucky winner who will be chosen in a random drawing from all entries. To be eligible, just sign up as a follower (click on "join this site"  which is located on the left sidebar across from this text)  The winner will be required to provide a physical address, not a P.O. Box address for the book delivery. U.S. residents only. Contest ends December 4th and the winner will be announced on this blog December 8th.

 Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/LauraSassiTales

Blog:  https://laurasassitales.wordpress.com/

Book Trailer:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kppv9AMwJrA

Links to the blog tour for Goodnight, Ark

https://laurasassitales.wordpress.com/2015/10/03/goodnight-manger-blog-tour-itinerary/