Celebrating “International Read to Me Day” with a New Children's Book Release

I'm celebrating “International Read to Me Day” by releasing my newest picture book for children. This is the third picture book I've published. The previous two books were ones with a Christmas theme. I am an unabashedly Christmas spirited person. I not only love reading and writing books with a Christmas theme, but I enjoy watching Christmas movies as well. As a matter of fact, I just watched another Christmas movie this week.

But back to my newest book, the cover for this rhyming story features four different children. I chose this design to be in line with the title that Jesus’s love is for everyone. Prior to writing children's books and novels, I wrote for numerous magazines and book anthologies. I now enjoy bringing those types of stories to life with pictures.

The text of this book was inspired by the scripture verses found in Psalm 139 and numerous verses in the New Testament. I wrote this story as a way for parents, grandparents, and other caregivers to remind children that no matter where they are or what they do, Jesus is always with them, and he'll see them through. That's a good message for adults, too.

When I first saw one of my picture books in paperback, I was shocked to see how skinny the book was. Making picture books in a hardcover format definitely gives more depth to the book size. Since paperback books cost about 50% less then hardcover ones, I decided to give more value then what you would be receiving from most other picture books by adding a bonus. Besides having the full story text and images, I am also including several coloring pages. But you'll have to provide your own crayons!

The publication for this book was scheduled to be released earlier this month, but due to some issues with Amazon it's been delayed. I'm waiting for my second proof to verify that what I see on a computer screen is what you'll see when you hold the book in your hand. 

The eBook is available now at a discount of $2.99. At the beginning of April, the regular price will be $4.99. I hope you'll enjoy reading the book and sharing it with others. I've already got another book in the works, so you'll be hearing about that one soon.

Have a wonderful day and remember… Jesus loves me through and through. And guess what? He loves you too!

Finding the Writing Method for You: Author Interview with Jenny Strohmeyer

What made you decide to start writing books for children? 
I started out creating stories for live storytelling and for my Youtube channel, SpiritStories. Ideas usually come to me when I’m daydreaming, and asking myself “what if?” questions. One day my mind wandered into thinking about angels, and I asked myself, “what if there were some very mischievous angels in Heaven? Ones who loved to have fun instead of concentrating on their angel duties?” I decided they would probably be smaller and more childlike than the other more serious angels, and the idea for The Small Ones was born. The idea became much larger than what would fit into a ten-minute story, so I decided to turn it into a book for children.

How long does it take for you to complete a book?
Both the books I have written have taken a year to complete, from the start of writing, going through the editing process, working with the illustrator and graphic designer, to the uploading for publication on Amazon. When I complete the writing for one book, I immediately start on the next one. While I’m writing one book, I’m always compiling lists of ideas for subsequent ones for The Small Ones Series.

You publish as an indie author. How did you those who helped with putting the book together as a completed project?
I had very specific ideas about the illustrations I wanted for the cover and the interior. I knew I wanted to have an actual artist do them, instead of using computer-generated art. Mary (Coons) and I work together on the ideas. I send her a list of what is needed, and then she and I meet to go over the preliminary sketches. She always adds lots of fun ideas. Of course, lunch at our favorite restaurant is always a part of these meetings! Then, we meet again to go over the final artwork (lunch again!). I always look forward to seeing her very detailed and winsome illustrations. I found Mary through the recommendation of a mutual friend.

Initially I thought I would try to format the book myself. But when I looked at the requirements for AmazonKDP formatting, I knew I was going to need help! Graphic designer Suzanne Parada was recommended to me by my editor, Janet Schwind. Suzanne's choices for the fonts, and the layout of the whole book, enhance and fit the story perfectly.

What was the hardest part of putting together your books?
Finding an illustrator was the most difficult, and longest part of getting the first book ready for publication. I made contact with seven different artists over several months. Some started the job but for different reasons were unable to finish. Before I chose Mary, she made some preliminary sketches for me so I could see her style and interpretation of my ideas. She has truly caught the spirit of the story and her illustrations are delightful!

What’s the best encouragement you’ve had from readers?
I have found that adults like these books almost as much as children do. My first book was given to a young man who was grieving the loss of a relationship. As he read it, he just started laughing, and his healing was accelerated. Knowing that this book was used to help this young man move forward in his life makes all the hard work worthwhile!

Marketing is the biggest key to getting sales. What is the best marketing source you've used that has produced more sales rather than just clicks?
For both books I designed an email attachment that features my introductory Youtube video about it. I send this attachment to friends and family members, and ask them to forward it to anyone they know who might be interested. This gives a personal introduction to the books from people who know me, and has generated sales.

What do you know now about publishing you wished you had known sooner?
I researched the self-publishing process before I started and decided it was the best option for me. Having done that beforehand, nothing happened that was an unpleasant surprise. I would encourage anyone who is wanting to publish to research all the options as thoroughly as possible so they know what to expect, and can then pick the method that is going to work best for them.

What is the best writing advice you’ve received or could give?
To achieve the maximum productivity for your writing, know yourself and your work style. Having read biographies about authors and how they structured their days, I knew I needed to follow the ones who treat it like a job and discipline themselves to keep specific hours set aside for writing every day. Before I committed to doing that, I was finding lots of excuses to avoid working on the book. Then I would feel guilty all day if I didn’t do any writing at all! While I love the creative part of making up a story, I’m not one of those people who loves the writing process. I had to discipline myself to make it a priority. However, every person is different. Find the method that works best for you.

Are there any other points about writing you would like to add?
The ability to put things into words that clarify, inform, educate, or encourage, is a gift. It can take many forms: a letter, an article, a book, a document, or even a greeting card. May every person who reads this find many ways to use their writing to bless others!

What is the next book coming out?  Can you give me some details?
I hope to publish the next book in 2024. The Small Ones will be assigned to help Noah and his family on the ark. With so many creatures in one space, there are lots of opportunities for fun situations and dilemmas for Small Ones. I have so many ideas for this one that I’m having trouble picking out the best ones!

That's all for today's interview. Check out the links below to learn more about Jenny's books.
Books
https://www.amazon.com/Small-Ones-Great-Earth-Adventure/dp/B0B4C6YJPF
https://www.amazon.com/Small-Ones-Their-First-Assignment/dp/B0CDF17FD7

YouTube Announcements

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aa5gFcL55gQ&t=59s

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_TinYM4GBNY&t=14s

Website: https://www.jennystrohmeyer.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100081201014207

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jennystrohmeyer.author/

Publishing a Book is Much More Than Having a Story Idea: Author Interview With Terri Sabol

What made you decide to start writing picture books?
I’ve always loved reading books. When I was an early childhood teacher, reading books to my students was always a highlight of my day.

How long did it take for you to complete your first book?
I adopted my two cats, Oscar and Emmy, in December 2015, and I took about 2000 pictures and videos in the first month! I thought my cats would be perfect candidates to help spread the word about rescue and adoption via picture books. I interviewed the shelter’s manager in January of 2016 to get the scoop on what happens behind the scenes of an animal shelter to get the animals ready for adoption. The book, Oscar and Emmy Get Rescued, was published that December.

Are you active in any writing critique groups?
When I am actively writing a manuscript per month, I’m usually part of two different critique groups (one online and one in person). When my schedule only allows for writing less often, then I rely on a critique partner and an editor.

How did you go about finding an illustrator?
My 10th book is being illustrated right now and I’ve had four illustrators total. The first one was a referral from a friend. The other three were found online by searching either for certain hashtags or in various illustration groups. Three of the illustrators have done multiple books for me. Kneading a Winning Idea and Green With Envy are both standalone books that are outside the Oscar and Emmy Series. They are both illustrated by the same talented artist, Pei Jen, because I enjoyed working with her so much.

What was the hardest part of putting together your books?
Creating and putting together the books is the fun part. I love the process. Marketing them and finding your audience is the hardest part.

Did you personally design the full book, or did you have assistance with formatting or cover design, etc.? 
I learn from each book what I like, as well as reading and researching other published books for what works. Some illustrators, I’ve worked more closely with on the cover design. Others, have more free reign because I trust that their vision aligns with mine. I also like illustrators who have design and formatting experience so they illustrate each page with the complete book in mind to begin with.

What’s the best encouragement you’ve had from readers?
For Kneading a Winning Idea, I love hearing when a family is inspired to make the recipe included in the back of the book. I also love seeing when my books are front and center on bookshelves in classrooms and bedrooms.

Marketing is the biggest key to getting sales. What is the best marketing source you've used that has produced more sales rather than just clicks?
Recently, I joined other authors of Spanish books to help promote each other. I included the bilingual version of my first book, Oscar y Emmy son rescatados, in the eBook promo. Soon after, I had a single order for 15 physical copies of my book, my largest order for that book.

What do you know now about publishing you wished you had known sooner?
I wish I had known how important marketing is and about building your subscriber list from the beginning. Especially if you have niche books and a smaller audience. It's good to build that relationship with them early since they will be your biggest cheerleaders. Also, social media is always changing, so it's nice to have your list that will stay with you regardless of the current trendy platform.

What is the best writing advice you’ve received or could give?
Children's books authors are so supportive of each other. It's great when you find a small group of authors and form a critique group to help be beta readers and sounding boards for each other. Also, when you start publishing, they are very helpful to have on your book launch team. It’s nice to be part of a supportive community.

Are there any other points about writing you would like to add?
Most people don’t realize that publishing a book is so much more than having an idea and writing the book. There are so many layers of revision and editing (including by peers and paid editors), researching and hiring an illustrator, graphic design, formatting, book sizes, knowing printing options, website design and upkeep, social media content and engagement, newsletters, blogs, author visits to schools, in-person events, digital author visits, keeping up with inventory, tracking royalties, ads, sales taxes, IRS taxes, etc. 

For some, writing a book may just be a passion project. For others, they want a career of being an author and must learn the business side of it. In the beginning, it might be a lot of trial and error. If this is what you really want, do the research, surround yourself with a great team, and don’t give up.

Tell me more about your Oscar and Emmy Book Series. 

The series is inspired by my real-life cats, Oscar and Emmy. The books are ideal for cat families and animal activists who are looking for an engaging way to guide their kids in taking an active role in pet care. The book topics include rescue and adoption, spay and neuter, microchipping, pet disaster kits, preventative health care vet visits, trap-neuter-return, and euthanasia.

I also have two books outside the series. They both focus on perseverance and being the best version of yourself. Green With Envy tackles the familiar feeling of jealousy and learning to appreciate what you have. In Kneading a Winning Idea, Ben is inspired by his cat to improve his buttermilk biscuit recipe—and hopefully win the baking contest.

My amazing illustrator, Roksana Barwinska, has been busy working on my next book, Oscar and Emmy Foster a Kitten, to be released later this year.

That's all for today's interview. If you'd like to learn more about Terri's books, here are the links to get you started. 
Website: https://www.terrisabol.com/
Blog: https://www.terrisabol.com/blog/
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/stores/Terri-Sabol/author/B01MSWRB9M
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/terrisabol/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/OscarAndEmmyBooks/

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

Around the Web: Best Posts on Writing I've Discovered This Week

I subscribe to and follow several authors, blogs, and writing sources throughout the week.

Each Friday, I include links to FIVE sources to improve your writing that I found useful.

Here are my offerings for this week. Hope they inspire you to start writing and continue writing!

I had to include this post as this points out a quick way for your readers to lose interest in your story. Your writing needs to be fresh. https://blog.bookbaby.com/how-to-write/good-writing-habits/tropes-a-storytelling-staple

Here's an inspiring post to remind you of the importance of being persistent. https://authorspublish.com/the-writing-project-that-took-a-quarter-of-a-century-to-complete/

Plot twists when written well (not like a soap opera) will keep your reader turning pages. Here's a list of suggestions to keep them wondering what will happen next.  https://writinglikeaboss.com/even-more-plot-twist-ideas

Here's a writing niche that needs to be explored if you want to write and publish children's books. https://www.highlightsfoundation.org/13191/what-so-what-now-what-science-writing-that-stands-out/

You know what a good book is when you're reading one. But what makes a good writer?  https://www.livewritethrive.com/2022/05/30/the-art-of-becoming-a-good-writer/
 

Halloween Fun: An Author Interview with Elyse Bruce

How did you come up with the idea of your Halloween themed book?
I love puns, and so does my fictional character, Missy Barrett.  In fact, she's infamous for her puns, especially those that involve bears.

One day, I was thinking about Hallowe'en and how bats and cats are always part of any Hallowe'en decor, and I thought it would be funny to have a character named Batson Katz.  The minute that name came to mind, I knew he would be a character in a Missy Barrett story although I wasn't sure what the story would be about when I came up with the name.

I jotted the character's name down in my idea book, added a few notes about Hallowe'en, and weeks later, I revisited my idea book and started writing Bats'n'Cats.

Could you give me a short synopsis on the story for my readers?
Sir Batson Katz's annual Candy Corn Bash is held every year on Hallowe'en at his estate on English Mountain.  Famous supermodel and actress Twiggy Branch, Shakespeare's Wayward Sisters, Count Dracula, and other other-worldly celebrities will be there, along with real people who have received a hand-written invitation. 

The invitations hint that a very special announcement will be made at the party.  Nine-year-old Missy Barrett and her brothers, Josh and Aaron, can only imagine what a wonderful surprise Sir Batson Katz has in store for everyone.

What made you decide to do a Halloween themed book?
Missy Barrett's tagline is:  Come for the fun and stay for the excitement.  

It made sense to have a book about Hallowe'en that Missy -- and real children like her -- might not only attend but look forward to attending.

Missy has already had so many adventures that most authors shy away from writing.  My fictional character has talked about difficult situations in a positive way, whether it was talking with one of her brothers about living with a rare, incurable disease to flying in a vintage 1927 WACO straight wing bi-plane or dealing with everyday situations that aren't very nice to deal with such as bullying.

Hallowe'en can be an entertaining positive celebration if you make it fun and not quite so scary), so I wrote Bats'n'Cats.

How do you celebrate Halloween in your home?
Hallowe'en has always been a fun time for me.  Because I have a son on the autism spectrum who didn't deal well with Hallowe'en when he was very young, we didn't do anything for Hallowe'en for a number of years.  But now that he's older, I've been able to enjoy decorating the house in not-as-scary-as-you-would-think decorations that tie in with Hallowe'en.

What’s next?
The book launch for "Bats'n'Cats" is on Sunday, October 28 from 1:30 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. at All Season Suites in Pigeon Forge (TN).  Everyone is encouraged to dress up in a spooky costume, and we have some Missy Barrett style special guests coming in to entertain everyone at this all ages, family friendly event.

Leading up to that date, everyone is having boatloads of fun on the Bats'n'Cats Event Page on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/events/477260712755184/

I'm already working on the next Missy Barrett story, Dollars and Sense, as well as researching a Missy Barrett non-fiction book that my fictional character hopes will encourage NASA to re-planet Pluto.  You may not be aware of this, but Missy feels when NASA took away Pluto's planet designation, their thinking was faulty.

I also have two books slated for release in 2019 under a pen name, as well as various short stories.

Any special awards or achievements you’d like to mention?
Missy Barrett is always encouraging people to do good deeds to help others.  Whether it's listening to someone who needs to talk or pitching in and creating a fundraiser for a worthy cause, she's all about doing what she can to help.

Both the City of Sevierville and the County have proclaimed August 30 -- which just happens to be Missy Barrett's birthday -- to be International Missy Barrett Day. This is a day to not only do good deeds, but to encourage everyone you know -- especially on social media -- to do good deeds in their community, and to encourage others they know to do good deeds.

What’s the best writing tip you’ve learned that you’d like to share?
Write from your heart.  Always.  

What do you know now about writing and publishing you wish you had learned sooner?
I believe everything happens in its own time at the right time so I don't wish I had learned anything any sooner, or any later, than I did.  

Any last words or tips?
Remember when you write, you write for yourself.  When your reader reads, your readers read for himself or herself.  If you remember that, you won't worry about what anyone else thinks about your characters. You'll be confident knowing people love your fictional characters -- and you -- for all the right reasons.

Just as important as that is to always strive for excellence, and not go with 'good enough' when you know you can do better.

That’s all for today’s interview. If you would like to learn more about Missy Barret and her adventures, here are some links to get you started.

FACEBOOK: www.facebook.com/MissyBarrettFanPage
TWITTER: www.twitter.com/glassonastick
WORDPRESS: www.missybarrett.wordpress.com
WEBSITE: www.missybarrett.com

Kid's Books Are For Adults, Too: An interview with B.C.R. Fegan

Your bio shows that you have a great love of reading the classic fantasy books that have stood the test of time. Why did you choose to write picture books where your full story has to be limited to just 32-pages of a short paragraph or two per page?
When I was young, I really enjoyed reading imaginative tales that captured the mind and sent it soaring into the realm of infinite possibilities. Now that I’m a little older, I still enjoy these kinds of tales. In fact, you’ll often find me in bookstores and libraries perusing the picture book, MG and YA sections. I think fantasy and classic fairy tales have an incredible way of giving us a world that our minds long to linger within.

I believe that well-written picture books don’t actually limit an author’s ability to write a compelling, imaginative, or even deep story. In fact, I would go as far to say that well-written picture books can be just as entertaining for adults. The beauty of only having 32 pages (generally speaking) is that it forces an author to distill a narrative into its most potent elements. This is what made the early fairy tales (and even nursery rhymes) so magical. I try to capture some of that magic in my own stories and hopefully those who read them will agree.

How long did it take you to write your first book? Who helped you with the editing? Who encouraged you along the way?

I have written a number of books throughout my life, although most of them probably won’t be published. The first book that I ever published was The Grumpface and it took around three months to complete. At the time, I was working in a fairly demanding job, so I only had very small pockets of time to complete the manuscript.

When I was finally happy with it, I was fortunate to be put in touch with an editor who had previously been a judge for a number of major literary awards. He was able to iron out a few grammatical wrinkles and was actually very encouraging with the book as a whole.

How did you go about finding an agent/publisher? Did you go to conferences? Send out queries? Introduced to someone in the business?
The quest to find an agent and publisher was actually a very short one. When I first decided that I should begin publishing my stories, I sent a quick query letter to an agent and another one to a publisher. I had read that a response could take a while, so I wanted to make a start.

While I waited, I began researching the publishing process so that I would have at least a little bit of knowledge about the industry. By the time I received their responses (which turned out to be six months later), I had conducted so much research, that I had already decided that I could start my own publishing company. I think it turned out to be a good decision because I now have control over the entire process (which works well for my perfectionist nature).

What does your editor remind you to do most often?

I have an excellent editor who constantly surprises me with her breadth of knowledge of all things grammar. Despite her ability to track down the smallest errors like a bloodhound, she has reminded me on a few occasions to be less rigid with my own sentence construction. I think when you know your work is going to be scrutinized, you try to conform to writing standards that are no longer an imperative. At the end of the day, punctuation and grammar exist to help readers understand the text in the best way possible.

What’s the best encouragement you’ve had in your writing?
I would have to say the best encouragement I’ve had only occurred recently. I received a notification that a 4-year-old boy in the UK had dressed up as a character from the book Don’t Ever Look Behind Door 32 for World Book Day. Apparently, his mother had suggested Batman, but he was passionate about his choice. That was a pretty amazing compliment to receive. Aside from that, I’ve been overwhelmed with encouraging remarks from parents and teachers about the new book.

We have all experienced rejection. Give me an example of one you’ve had, and how you learned to write past it.
I’m not sure if I would call it rejection, but I have certainly received criticism about some of my books. However, what one person doesn’t like, someone else loves. I think this is important to understand when it comes to moving past any criticism or rejection. At the end of the day, if you understand your motivation for writing and realize that you won’t please everyone, it’s not such a big deal.

What has surprised you the most in writing/publishing? What frustrated you the most?
I think what has surprised me the most is also what has been the most frustrating. The amount of time that an author is expected to put into publicity is astronomical. On one level it can be enjoyable yet, I suspect like most writers, I’d prefer to be writing.

What do you know now about writing that you wished you had known sooner?
That’s a difficult question. I guess one thing that I had always suspected, but hoped I could avoid was the importance of the author’s platform. I actually have no interest in becoming well-known, but I think these days, an author has to sell himself as much as the book. If I had known long ago that this was imperative, I probably wouldn’t have resisted it for so long.

What is some of the best writing advice that you’ve received or could give?
If I could encourage anyone who is looking to write, I would say understand your motivation for writing and write according to your passion. When you understand your motivation, you not only have a clear goal, but you have a way of measuring your success. When you write according to your passion, your writing will be authentic.

Are there any other points about writing that you would like to add?
I think writing is one of the most exciting things someone can do – and writing children’s books can be very rewarding. If anyone reading this has set their mind to becoming a children’s book writer, I implore you to heed C.S. Lewis’ words, ‘A children’s story that can only be enjoyed by children is not a good children’s story in the slightest.’ It’s a great filter for each book you write and every parent who is forced to read the same story for the umpteenth time will indeed thank you!

What is the next book that will be coming out? Can you give me a short synopsis?
The next picture book to launch will be an alphabet book that tackles learning the ABCs in a slightly different way. It centers around a young boy who hasn’t finished his homework and comes up with a plan to try and get out of any punishment. It should be out around mid-year.

That’s all for today’s interview. If you’d like to learn about this author’s books, here are some links to get you started.

Newest book:  https://amzn.to/2EwwTfR
Website:  http://www.bcrfegan.com/
Goodreads: https://bit.ly/2qj58Cr

Writing and Illustrating: An Interview with Kelly Pulley

You started off illustrating children's books for other authors. What made you decide to illustrate and write your own books?

I’d been illustrating the Beginner’s Bible books for quite a few years. We had published a lot of books in the series, but I’d never seen one written in rhyme. I had no writing experience at all, but I thought, how hard could it be? 

Well, it was hard. That first story was Food for a Fish, which was published by David C. Cook in 2012, first as one of 4 books in a series and then in the Magnificent Tales Treasury of Bible Stories.

How did you go about finding a publisher?

I sent book proposals directly to contacts I had made through illustrating, thereby bypassing the slush pile.  In other words, I cheated. Finding an agent was much more difficult.

What is the hardest part of writing for you?

I would say the hardest thing for me is everything. I wish I could have a great story all planned out in my head before I sit down at my computer. But I usually have just a simple idea when I start. Then it’s a matter of writing, rewriting and more rewriting. When I feel it’s finished it sometimes doesn’t resemble what I started with. If it weren’t hard it wouldn’t be much fun or rewarding.

What does your editor remind you to do most often?

I’m not sure if there is one thing I hear more frequently than anything else, but the thing that comes to mind is to add more layers to my stories or add an extra twist. I think I’ve been scolded for doing about anything and everything that is possible to do wrong during the writing process. My punctuation is atrocious. Actually, I’m quite adept at making errors.

What’s the best encouragement you’ve had in your writing?

That’s easy, my wife. She believes in what I’m doing and she’s my biggest fan. There’s no way I would still be at this if it weren’t for her ceaseless support and encouragement.

We have all experienced rejection. How have you learned to write past it?

I’ve received a ton of rejection letters. The form letters are the worst, because you don’t get any feedback, so you have no idea why the story was rejected. I’ve found that if I’ve been pitching a story for a year or so and I haven’t found a publisher, it’s best to put the story aside. I can always return to it later and rework it, or just write it off as a learning experience.

What has surprised you the most in writing/publishing?
That a publisher would like my stories enough to publish them!

What frustrated you the most? 

That a publisher wouldn’t like my stories enough to publish them! 

What do you know now about writing that you wished you had known sooner?

How long the whole process takes. Spending months (or longer) writing and rewriting a story, then more months (or longer) searching for an agent or publisher. And when you finally find a publisher it still takes up to a couple years before your book hits the shelves. 

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

With picture books every word is important. If it’s not essential to the story, it needs to go.   

Are there any other points about writing that you would like to add?

Don’t wait to start writing until you have the perfect story in your head. Just write. Let the story develop as you write. Few of my stories–other than my Bible stories–end up anything like I originally had in mind.   

What is the next book that will be coming out? Can you give me a short

synopsis?

I have several stories that I’m very excited about that I haven’t yet begun pitching to publishers.  One is about a rhinoceros and mouse that plan to have tea at the mouse’s house. The rhinoceros finds neither the house nor the story acceptable and takes matters into his own hands.

I also have a Christian series that is ready to pitch that is meant to show kids how to use the Bible to answer questions about fear, forgiveness patience, helping your neighbor, etc.

That’s it for today’s interview. If you’d like to learn more about Kelly’s books, here are some links to get you started.

https://www.facebook.com/kellypulleyauthor/

http://www.kellypulley.com

https://twitter.com/Kellpulley

Keying into your Inspiration: An Interview with Angela Bonomo

What made you decide to write your first children's book?
It started out as a Christmas gift for my family. I was awakened at 2:00 a.m. one morning and felt the need to sit down and write. The Forgotten Princesses just appeared on the page. The next morning I showed it to my husband and he loved it. He said I should get it published. I figured he was a little prejudice because he loves me, so I asked my daughters to read it. I didn’t say anything to them, except to please read it. They loved it and said I should get it published, too. 

Was there any particular author you read that made you think, I could write like that?
None specifically,  but I really like Peter Brown and Mem Fox. 

How long did it take you to write your book?
The first night I wrote the entire story in under an hour. The rest took months.

How many rewrites did you do on it?
I’d say it was about 50-60.

Who helped you with the editing?
My daughter is an English teacher. I went to her first and then to my publishing house’s editor.

What is the hardest part of writing for you?
I guess it would be choosing the direction the story and /or characters head. There are a lot of “What ifs” to answer.

I would also add that building the tension is one of the hardest parts for me, due to the limited amount of words I am allotted, with it being a picture book.

What is the easiest part for you?
Starting is usually the easiest part 

What’s the best encouragement you’ve had in your writing?
My family and friends. They have been amazing. I would be amiss if I did not also say, my Lord. He has opened so many doors. I never would have imagined all this.

We have all experienced rejection. Give me an example of how you learned to write past it.
As I did not traditionally publish, I have not had much rejection. Time will tell when I query my next manuscript.

What made you choose the indie route?
I wanted to keep control over every aspect of my book and this allowed me to do that.

What was the most challenging part about putting together the book?
Time crunches. If I wanted “The Forgotten Princesses” out ASAP, I had to be ready to drop everything and get to work on whatever my Publishing house needed.

What do you know now about writing that you wished you had known sooner? 
That I would have to market myself not just my book. I am more comfortable being the cheerleader in the background, encouraging others to step out of their comfort zone. You have to become comfortable stepping into the spotlight.

What is the best writing advice that you’ve received or could give?
If you want to write anything, then you should start by reading as many books, in the genre you’re interested in, as possible. I was told 100 books is a good start. Then take notice of what you like, and do not like, about the author’s writing. Buy a few of these books to use as Mentor Books. They will become some of your best teachers.

Are there any other points about writing that you would like to add?
Get involved in a writers group, in organizations like CBI (Children’s Book Insider) and SCBWI (Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators) if you are looking to write for children. If you are interested in writing for adults, you will need to research that on your own, (sorry). Either way, study your craft or be careful to choose wisely, whether it be an organization, writing group, publisher or agent.

What is the next book that will be coming out?

It is about a little boy with school issues. 

Can you give me a short synopsis?
Not yet, don’t want to give away too much till I get an agent. But I will keep you posted.

That's all for today's interview. If you would like to learn more about Angela's writing and her book, here are two links to get you started.
 https://www.angelabonomobooks.com
https://www.facebook.com/AngelaBonomoBooks/#

Writing with a Purpose: Author Interview with Geoffrey Cook

What made you decide to write your first middle-grade novel?

My ten-year-old daughter Madeline inspired me to write this book. When she was in the first grade, I began reading to her at bedtime almost every night. We read the first 3 books of Harry Potter, The Princess Bride, and soon I began to read middle-grade books for pleasure myself, like The Wizard of Oz, Mary Poppins, most books by Roald Dahl, and A Wrinkle in Time.

Around this time, my wife began telling Madeline bedtime stories about a little girl who lived on a volcano. She named her Veronica after her mother’s middle name. Veronica’s adventures were Maddy’s adventures: a lost tooth, a win at softball, a skinned knee.

Maddy loved Veronica. I would tell her a new story on the twenty-five-minute ride to school each morning. Over time, the stories got more involved. I imagined Veronica’s volcanic world and even drew a map.

Eventually I began to write the stories down. And that turned out to be a more interesting process than I imagined. There is a transformation that takes place in creating a story for a child. The poet Rumi understood it well:

When a man makes up a story for his child,
he becomes a father and a child
together, listening.

Story transforms the storyteller. You must be the child to experience the sense of awe and wonder, and you must be the adult to write it down.

Was there any particular author you read that made you think, I could write like that?

The author who influenced me the most was Simon Winchester and his book Krakatoa. He showed the man-made fallout and opportunism following an eruption can be worse than the eruption itself. That insight inspired my villain – the man in white. Veronica is warned in chapter one: “When the volcano does blow, true colors will show. Nature is nature, it’s always right. But man can be evil and man can be right. And man can be blinded by a terrible night. An evil is coming, he’s coming in white.”

Beyond serving as the model for my Mount Mystery, Krakatoa also included a helpful “Further Reading” section, which helped guide my research into volcanoes. I read The Malay Archipelago, Twenty-One Balloons, Ring of Fire by the Blair brothers, and many other books and short stories about volcanoes and volcanic regions.

I wanted Veronica and the Volcano to be more scientifically grounded than Twenty-One Balloons while having no less wonder and adventure, and I think even more. There is a mystery at the heart of the universe that I think is the source of all wonder, and I wanted to bring that mystery to the fore in Veronica.

How long did it take you to write your book? How many rewrites did you do on it? Who helped you with the editing?
It took a little over three years: one year to write and two years to edit. I am probably a better editor than writer. I ran an editing business for a little over seven years.

During the editing, I tried to learn everything I could about volcanoes. Of course, I did all of this on the side, as I was working and continue to work 60+ hours a week as CEO of a public company (NASDAQ: MEET). I was not working on the book every day, every week, or even every month, but I fit it in whenever I could.

During the editing process, I probably did a full edit at least half-a-dozen times, while also adding details, color, and backstory based on my research. I gave early drafts to friends of my daughter, and I asked two editors I sourced online to read it and provide feedback as well: Scott McCormick and Amy Betz.

Throughout the process, my intended reader was my daughter Madeline. I also consulted with her on place names, and she invented many of them like Mount Mystery, New Lava City, Mount Kaboom, and the Cinnamon Forest.

What is the hardest part of writing for you? Starting? Creating a scene? Dialog? Tension, etc?
I struggled with purpose. I am writing this why? What changed about the protagonist—for better or worse—from the beginning of the story to the end beyond her going on a fantastical adventure? How much can a ten-year-old child be realistically expected to have changed over just 7 days, however remarkable those 7 days may be?

I found the answers to these questions in the ending of the story and in Veronica’s relationship to the boy in the story. The shift is not dramatic, but it’s there. Veronica starts off sweet, innocent and trusting, cocooned in her family’s love and in a larger community of townspeople who might as well be her uncles and aunts. By the end, some of the innocence is gone but her sense of wonder and inherent goodness is intact.

The adults are not always good, but that’s not an excuse to be bad. Innocence may not be able to survive trauma but a fundamental sense of goodness can, and this sense of goodness is inherently linked to the mystery, beauty, and power of nature.

We have all experienced rejection. Give me an example of how you learned to write past it.
This being my first book, my writing career is too early to have faced a lot of rejection. But having built up multiple businesses from the ground up, I am no stranger to rejection. Ultimately, you need to have faith in the reason you started working on something in the first place, so the stronger that grounding the more able you are to deal with the slings and arrows. The trick is not being discouraged by negative feedback and being able to tell the difference between unwarranted criticism and that which is spot on. There’s a lot more of the former than the latter.

Violet Moon is your imprint, correct? What made you choose the indie route? What was the most challenging part about putting together the book?
It never occurred to me to go the traditional publishing route. I am an entrepreneur by trade. My businesses have always been about disrupting gatekeepers, so doing it myself seemed natural. Also, the few people I know who went the traditional publishing route painted an ugly portrait: a publisher does not guarantee success. Only a handful of published titles are going to get real attention and resources from the publisher.

If you must do most of the marketing yourself anyway, what is the advantage of the traditional route? I simply wanted to tell a story with no thought of commercial viability. I had my imagined reader (my daughter), and I didn’t need a gatekeeper.

Whether it would sell 100 copies or 100,000 mattered less than my happiness and my intended reader’s happiness with the work. My highest praise came from my daughter. I gave her the finished book, and she read through it in 2 days!

Had I gone the traditional route, I never would have had the book illustrated. I would have left that to the publisher and no publisher would have ever illustrated it so richly. But this story demands illustration. Who doesn’t want to see the volcano? I wanted Veronica to deliver illustrations reliably to the reader, with at least 2 illustrations per chapter. The indie publishing route made that possible.

I had the great fortune of connecting with the illustrator Gabrielle Shamsey who completed nearly 100 hand-drawn color illustrations for the book. I met her through a local art class Maddy and I were taking together. I asked the art teacher for a referral to an illustrator, and he suggested Gabrielle.

Thank God he did. Her illustrations define the story. I edited Veronica again and again trying to make the text worthy of her pictures.

What do you know now about writing that you wished you had known sooner?
When I started, I had no concept of where it would end up. At first, I thought it might even be just an extended poem. I simply started putting sentences together and researching volcanoes because my daughter loved stories about a little girl who lives on a volcano. Before I began, I think I assumed you write a story, edit it as you go, proofread it a couple times, and voila, you have your book.

But I found that while you must do all of that, you’re still only one-third of the way there. I was not done until I could read every page of the story without materially improving it. I don’t know how many books I will write. If this is the only one, it had better be the best book that I am capable of writing now.

What is some of the best writing advice that you’ve received or could give?
I very much enjoyed On Writing by Stephen King and Story by McKee. I wish I had read them both earlier. After reading each, I edited the work and found many more areas to improve. From King I learned to cut even further than I typically cut: the fewer the words the better! I also developed an absolute distaste for adverbs modifying verbs related to dialog (except when I do it anyway ). I also learned I had an unhealthy reliance on the em dash.

Story helped me find answers in my ending that allowed me to flesh out certain areas of the text and gave me some comfort in the overall structure of the work.

I have a lot more to learn about the craft, but one thing that helped me write Veronica is immersion in poetry. While writing Veronica, I read more poetry than I had ever read in my life up until that point. I was hoping some of it might rub off on my prose and some of the themes might work themselves into my characters. I read a lot of Rilke, Rumi, Mary Oliver, Wendell Berry, etc. Many of the poets I discovered on the podcast On Being by Krista Tippett.

Are there any other points about writing that you would like to add?
I wrote this book in bite-sized chapters that could be read by the child or read aloud by the parent at bedtime in less than fifteen minutes per chapter. Having been stuck many times reading 30+ pages of Harry Potter beginning at 9 pm, I wanted Veronica to easily fit into a bedtime routine.

What is the next book that will be coming out? Can you give me a short synopsis?
In Book 2 of Veronica, the extinct supervolcano Crater Lake will re-awaken, and it will be up to Veronica to save the town.

https://www.geoffreycook.com/
https://www.amazon.com/dp/0692892001/ 

Do Better: An Interview with Stephen Bramucci

What made you decide to write your first novel? Was there any particular author you read that made you think, I could write like that? 

I decided to write The Danger Gang and the Pirates of Borneo because of those Old Spice commercials. It's crazy, I don't even have a TV, I just saw those online and I love that boastful, mildly oblivious, and arrogant-yet-well-meaning voice. 

I also really love meta-fiction and "in jokes" and wanted to create a text rich with both. The book has notes from the narrator's butler at the end of each chapter that often contradict the main character's bombast. It's a fun way to foreshadow and call back to old jokes. 

In short, I did the only thing a person can ever do: I wrote the sort of adventure novel that I'd like to read. The pulpy Indiana Jones with a more flawed hero. That was the goal. 

How long did it take you to write your first book? Who encouraged you along the way?

Well, I wrote The Danger Gang and the Pirates of Borneo in grad school, at the Vermont College of Fine Arts, so it took about two years. In that time there were endless "beta reads" and critiques by profs, classmates, friends, partners, and my family. I'm a big believer in showing things to people, and on that project, I got a LOT of input. 

Are you active with any writing critique groups? 

I have two critique partners that I communicate with online daily. I'm also part of an annual writer's retreat near Chicago that gives me a chance to share work and get opinions on it. 

In short, I'm not the precious novelist who treats my work like the wings of a butterfly. I like opinions about what's wrong, then I like to try to figure out how to fix it. 

What is the hardest part of writing for you? Starting? Creating a scene? Dialog? Tension, etc?

I'd say the hardest part is connective tissue. I want to get gestures, interactions, expressions, and blocking right and those are the bits I probably rewrite the most. 

How do you handle the editorial process?

I was signed by Sara Crowe (now of Pippin) shortly after graduating and the book sold to Bloomsbury. Over the next few years (the book sold in 2014), I had another three editorial passes with the amazing Mary Kate Castellani. Editors are geniuses and she is a particularly brilliant one. I personally have come to realize that I thrive with editorial guidance. 

What does your editor remind you to do most often?

She reminds me of the importance of leaving breadcrumbs for the reader so that my exuberant, eager characters aren't just racing to and fro without giving the reader some indication of why. I've learned a lot from her on that count. I'm a vagabond in spirit (and in my previous profession as a full-time travel writer) so I sometimes write like I travel ("this happens, then this happens, then THIS!") without making sure all those things are causally related.

What’s the best encouragement you’ve had in your writing?

I've won some contests and awards, but they never answered that nagging question of "am I good enough?" Nothing has. Not my agent, not my editor, not my parents, not my friends. 

The only thing that has ever worked is reading something I wrote and liked it. I intimately understand the fiction tastes of one human on earth... me. I wrote a book I love. If there 10,000 people who have my same tastes, I'll be fine. If there are 50,000, I'll be stoked. If there are only 100 then... I guess I'm out of luck. 

I don't know how to write for anyone. I'm actually very audience-minded, I want my books read, but there's just no way to fully know what people want and I hate pandering. 

I imagine most writers are like that. I think J.K. Rowling was probably just like, "I want to write about some kids doing magic" and it just so happened that 50 million people were like "I'm so into that!"

We have all experienced rejection. Give me an example of one you’ve had, and how you learned to write past it.

I wrote a book I truly loved while I was waiting on illustrations for The Danger Gang. It got a lot of interest but has yet to sell. I know a few people who are waiting to see how the first novel performs before making a final call. That gutted me. I'm published now! I have a deal! Doors are supposed to be thrown open! 

But it's not always like that. This is an industry and there are machinations and movements behind the scenes. I was low for a while, but what the hell are you going to do, not write? 

Forget that. Writing is too fun to give up, even during the low times.

What has frustrated you the most in writing/publishing?

Frustrated me? Timelines. I'm the travel and food editor at Uproxx.com, where I'm responsible for editing and publishing 15 stories per day and writing at least one per day. So to sell a book in 2014 and have to wait so long to see it come out, that was hard. 

But I'm also a hippie -- very much one of those "it'll be launched the second the stars align" sort of SoCal types -- so I buy into the bigger notion of cosmic timing. The end result of this book is just lovely, which means that the timing was, ultimately, perfect. 

What do you know now about writing that you wished you had known sooner?

I wish I knew to start with a theme and build a story from there. I really like doing that and it was really something I hadn't considered until my friend Amy Rose Capetta mentioned it in her grad lecture. She's insanely successful and productive, so... seems like the sort of person worth listening to.

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

Michael Chabon and Ayelet Waldman tell one another to "DB" in the margins of their manuscripts. It stands for "Do Better" and I think it's the best note any writer can receive. As Neil Gaiman says, "If someone tells you something isn't working, they are almost always right. If they tell you how to fix it, they are almost always wrong."
What is the next book that will be coming out? Can you give me a short synopsis?

The Danger Gang and the Pirates Of Borneo! launches on August 1. It's the story of a boy who thinks of himself as a master adventurer but hasn't actually had any adventures. When his parents are abducted by pirates, he stages a rescue mission with his fencing rival Julianne Sato, his butler, Jeeves, and his pet king cobra. 

That's it for today's interview. If you would like to learn more about Stephen's writing, here are some ways to get started.

https://www.stephenbramucci.com/

Twitter: @stevebram 

Amazon Page 

Barnes and Noble Page