How did you get started as a writer?
In college I took a few creative writing courses and really enjoyed them, but it wasn’t until I had children and we’d check out stacks full of children’s books from the library each week that I knew I wanted to write for children. In 1993, when I decided to pursue getting published, I did my homework thoroughly and I wrote every day, and the rest of the story is a real miracle. It is quite unheard of, but the second manuscript I sent out got picked up by Houghton Mifflin and that became my first children’s book, RAIN SONG.
As the mother of six kids, when do you find time to write?
When my children were young I would snatch every spare minute I could find to write. As soon as they went down for nap, I’d be at the computer or I’d write late into the evenings after they were in bed. Some of my best ideas came to me in the middle of the night or in the early morning hours, so I always kept a writer’s journal by my bedside. Whether I was watching my kids play outside or waiting in a doctor’s office, pen and paper were never far away. You could often find me scribbling something in one of my writer’s journals. I even bought a mini tape recorder so I could record my thoughts and ideas as we drove down the road to their various activities.
Tell us about your typical day?
Now that my children are older I have the luxury of writing all day while they are at school if I want to. I find I do best in the mornings, so I often get up to check email and start a writing project before I get them up and off to school. After they are out the door, I usually write for a few more hours. Before I know it, half the day is gone, so I rip myself away from the computer, head out to the gym and run errands. I am a member of the Washington DC Children’s Book Guild, an online professional writer’s critique group, and I also do school visits and workshops. So, depending on the day, I do different things associated with writing. Every day is a little different.
What are you favorite books?
I think we have different “favorites” throughout our life. When I was young a few of my favorites were A WRINKLE IN TIME, WHERE THE RED FERN GROWS, and HARRIET THE SPY. I’m a huge proponent of reading with your children, as sharing books creates strong bonds. I say, “Read from the earliest age and at every stage!” So a few of my favorite picture books are THE GIVING TREE and ALL THE PLACES TO LOVE and the ones that make me laugh right out loud like LILIES PURPLE PLASTIC PURSE. When my kids were teenagers we didn’t stop sharing book titles and having discussions. WALK TWO MOONS and THE GIVER both stand out in my mind. Even now, with my adult children, we suggest books to each other. I recently read THE HUNGER GAMES and loved it, so I told the rest of my family about it. My son who is a senior in high school ended up doing an English project on it. THE HELP is another book me and my daughter just enjoyed reading and discussing.
What advice can you give other writers?
Do your homework, hone your craft, present yourself professionally, and find conferences and workshops to attend so you can start making connections. Then be prepared to be patient and persistent. If you have a passion for writing, go for it! Follow your dream.
The illustrations in your book are so sweet. When writing, did you envision the characters as they eventually came to life drawn by David McPhail?
It is always interesting to see what the illustrator has created to accompany my text. It is usually very different from the pictures I have in my head, so the first time I see the artwork it can be a bit jarring. If I am lucky, I get to see the rough sketches early on in the process. I have to tell you I have been a fan of David McPhail’s artwork for a very long time--since my grown children were little. So when he signed on to illustrate WHO LOVES THE LITTLE LAMB I was thrilled! And his artwork for this book did not disappoint. It is charming and endearing. Many of the spreads have a magical quality about them--like the little boar and his Mama walking through the woods together. That illustration is one of my favorites!
How does the collaboration between author and illustrator look like?
This is one of the great misconceptions when it comes to children’s books. The author rarely has a say in who will illustrate his/her work. The publisher chooses the illustrator. The author has little say in the matter. And most of the time the author and illustrator don’t ever meet or even talk with each other. The editor works as the go between to bring the written word and the artwork together in the collaborative process. So you can imagine how exciting it is to hold a newly printed book in my hands. It is a wondrous thing to see how it all came together!
Three lucky IAM readers will be winning a copy of your book. For the rest of us where can we buy it?
Barnes and Noble, Amazon.com, Politics and Prose Bookstore, or any of your favorite on-line bookstores.
Thanks so much for your great questions and best of luck to your readers.
Who Loves the Little Lamb?
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