Freaky Friday-Interview with aspiring children’s author Marie Cruz

October 16, 2009 |

If you’ve seen the movie Freaky Friday, you know that its premise is about change and growth through role reversal. For my Friday Blog entry I thought it would be interesting to interview aspiring writers; the same writers who spend lots of time reading the interviews of published authors and dreaming of the day when they might get their book on the shelves…
Marie Cruz is a wonderful friend that I met on Livejournal, but haven’t had the opportunity to meet in the flesh. I know this sounds kind of strange, but I really do consider the friends I’ve made in this wonderful writing community real friends. The idea of some day meeting Marie at a writing event, is the ultimate cherry on top of a conference sundae.
Let’s get to it. Marie, can you tell us a little bit about who you are and how you came to be an aspiring children’s author?

I have to start by saying that I’m not one of those people that wanted to be a writer when I was a seven. What I wanted to be at that age was an artist. Throughout my life so far, I’ve had a creative compulsion that needed to be expressed. Drawing and painting were my first forms of creative expression. Then as an adult I fell in love with all forms of textile arts and crafts. I’ve tried all kinds of different embroidery forms, you name it, I’ve done it! I’ve also crocheted, knitted and quilted. Throughout my adventures into the various art forms, I was also an avid reader.
I LOVE BOOKS. My book collection is bigger than my yarn stash! Oh, wait … yup, my husband just confirmed it … sigh. 🙂 I read whenever I can (even while cooking). My friends would ask about what I was reading and I would tell them about the story. The desire to write my own stories came to me quite suddenly. You know, like those light bulbs that light up above the heads of cartoon characters! I was browsing in a book store one day looking for a gift for my niece. I saw lots of picture books that featured stories set in Chinese, Japanese and Korean cultures but very few books (pubbed here in the US) with stories with Filipino kids and culture in them. Since I am a Filipino American, I realized that I could tell those stories. I. could. do. this. And so began my journey as an aspiring children’s book writer.
I wrote picture book stories for a couple of years then joined SCBWI. The moment I realized that I really do this was when I won an honorable mention in a writing contest at the 2007 SCBWI Los Angeles Writer’s Day conference for my picture book manuscrpt. It was at this same conference that I first heard Lisa Yee speak about her journey to becoming an author. She was so inspiring. What I remember most about her talk was how she challenged those at the conference to say they wanted to be an author, to say it out loud, to not be afraid to tell people about it. This was also the moment I decided to try my hand at writing a novel. Since that time, I’ve completed the novel, joined a critique group, revised it a few times and attended as many SCBWI conferences I could afford. It’s been a blast. I love every part of the writing process. It’s hard work but wonderfully gratifying!
You just gave me chills! Your Liss Yee experience is so much like my Laurie Halse Anderson experience. It changed me. I’m also sooooo envious that you can crochet and knit. I try-but not enough to get good enough to be relaxed while doing it. I always picture myself watching TV and making a sweater, but I end up with a lot of knots. At the end of the day my artistic side is better suited to dance, which means I only count to eight…maybe that’s why I get all those knots!

Congratulations, it had to be VERY empowering to win that 2007 honorable mention. I think any little nugget of encouragement can fill and fuel you, (and that was a pretty big nugget) especially when it seems like its getting harder and harder to swim up the stream of publication. Can you tell us a little bit about your WIP and where you are at in the process of trying to get published. We also accept shameless plugs about the awesome people in critique groups. :o)

My WIP is titled NORA’S GRAVE. It’s about a girl who lives as a squatter in the Manila North Cemetary and what happens when her mother makes a decision in a desperate attempt to rise out of poverty. This story was inspired by an article I read online about a missionary and his quest to save homeless children in the streets of Manila from a life of prostitution.
This book was first drafted in 2007. I’ve been steadily revising since then with my uber fabulous critique group (Edith, Steph and Carlynn — you ladies rock!) for the last year and a half. I was so fortunate to have found my group through SCBWI. They have taught me so much, challenged and pushed me when I needed it, and got me through my difficult months of revision.
As far as where I am in quest to go from pre-pubbed to pubbed author, I am actively querying/submitting to agents. This process has made me a student of patience and perseverance. It’s been tough but I’m learning so much!
Yay!!!!! The book sound fantastic and I can hold your hand and be neurotic with you-I’m in the same phase of searching for an agent.

It has come to my attention that by day, you’re a scientist. Is this where your secret inner type A personality comes out? Or have you managed to make science artistic and creative? How does your job inform or affect your writing?

Secret? LOL! Unfortunately, my tendency to obsess with details comes out in both my writing and my day job! As far as how it affects my writing, well, I just wish I had more time for writing. Working fulltime and taking care of my family PLUS making time to write has been a challenging balancing act for me but a worthwhile one. My family is very supportive even when I sometimes (sigh) lose track of time when writing …. 😀
My next project is going to be about a young scientist set in an alternate universe so my background in genetics will definitely help me with the science I’m going to have in my new story. I’m so excited about it I’m going to try NanoWriMo next month!
Wow-NanoWriMo scares me. I’m much better with JoNoWriMo. I need to be mothered in a YA kind of a way.

SCBWI has played a big role in your progression as a writer. I know a lot of people are making tough choices in these difficult economic times. Some people aren’t familiar with The Society of Children’s Writers and Illustrators and others just aren’t sure if the expense is worth it at this time. What would you tell other aspiring writers who haven’t had as much SCBWI experience? How can they get the most for their money if they do decide to join?

JoNoWriMo? Where have I been? If I had known about this community then maybe I would have joined up. Perhaps it’s not too late? I definitely agree that NaNo is scary. I’m not a fast writer or have large blocks of time to accommodate all the time I spend staring at the screen so coughing up 50,000 words in one month is terrifying. I want to try just the same and get a good head start on my next book.
Times have definitely been tough but I do think that membership is worth it. Even if you can’t afford to go to the big conferences, there are always regional events you can go to. As a member you have access to lots of information about the publishing industry. The SCBWI website is easy to navigate. Members have the opportunity to apply for grants and have access to a message board where you can ask questions, look for a critique partner or get advice from a lawyer who understands the ins and outs of the publishing industry.
The best thing though, is chance to meet other writers, to make new friends. Children’s book writers and illustrators are some of the nicest people in the world. 🙂
I’ll second that motion. The friends I’ve made and continue to make are one of the nicest things about being a children’s writer. I want to wish you good luck on NaNo-can’t wait to hear all about it.

I’m dying of curiosity…tell me your top 5 books and how they’ve influenced you.

Here are my top 5:
1. Bird by Bird by Anne Lamott – This book taught me so much about how writing can be its own fulfillment.
2. Coraline by Neil Gaiman – I love his storytelling style. I loved Neverwhere and Stardust as well. I’ve been a fan of his writing for fifteen years.
3. Ombria in Shadow by Patricia McKillip – She is also a long time favorite. This book in particular is one I’ve read a few times over the years. Her writing is lyrical and breathtaking. It is something I definitely aspire to acheive in my own writing.
4. Speak by Laurie Halse-Anderson – This book taught me a lot about the importance of a character’s emotional depth.
5. The Giver by Lois Lowry – This was the first of her books that I’ve read and my favorite. This book in particular is a wonderful example of creating a compellingly realistic alternate world and culture.
There you have it. I’d love to hear about your favorites.
I won’t give you my top 5, but I will tell you that you share some of my absolute favorites. Marie, I can’t thank you enough for stopping by and being freaky. If you’re interested in following Marie Cruz and her up and coming NaNoWriMo journey-stop by livejournal and say hi! Or you can visit her on Facebook. Thanks again Marie and I can’t wait until I meet you in person and maybe I can even get a knitting lesson or two.

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Freaky Friday-Interview with aspiring children’s author Edith Cohn

October 9, 2009 |

If you’ve seen the movie Freaky Friday, you know that its premise is about change and growth through role reversal. For my Friday Blog entry I thought it would be interesting to interview aspiring writers; the same writers who spend lots of time reading the interviews of published authors and dreaming of the day when they might get their book on the shelves…
I’m going to hop right to it and introduce you to Edith Cohn. Edith is one of those great people who has a gravitational pull. I know this because we’ve never met, yet she’s made me feel as if I’ve know her forever. She’s also intuited how much time I spend with frogs. (Shameless plug for the Fishkill Frogs at Fishkill Elementary) Without having met, I’ve already shared many laughs with Edith on Livejournal and I bet by the end of this interview, she’ll have pulled you in too.
Alright Edith, tell us a little bit about yourself and how you started your journey as a children’s writer.

This might be cheesy (those who know me well are familiar with my fondness for cheese), but I’d say my journey as a writer started when I learned to read. I have seriously wanted to be a writer since I was like five. There’s a book with a construction-paper cover, illegible handwriting, and hideous drawings of elves in a landfill somewhere. I’m sure it doesn’t make a lick of sense, but man, I wish I still had it ’cause it was my first. Funny how we get sentimental later in life. I threw it away (along with everything else I ever wrote as a child–including years worth of diary entries) when I went to college at 18 and didn’t even flinch. I guess I figured I’d write more. Luckily I was right.
Mmmmmmm I love cheese! Elves in a landfill sounds like an epic eco-fantasy. I do believe you may have been ahead of your time. What are you currently working on?

I’m working on a YA novel called PHOBIC. It’s a romantic comedy told in alternating perspectives about an extremely claustrophobic boy and a seemingly fearless theater girl.
Theater is in right now…get that book out there. I know Molly O’Neill has made a public plea for YA ala Glee.

I’m looking forward to meeting you in person at the NY SCBWI this year and maybe in LA too. You just got back from the LA Conference in August and I thought you could tell us a little bit about your experiences and shed some light on the pros and cons of attending. There was a recent thread on the Blue Boards about this topic and you really have some great insight having lived in both NY and CA.

I am sooo looking forward to meeting you as well! You are a funny gal, and I already adore you.
The timing for my book does seem good with all the chatter about Glee. I hope to be finished by the new year in time for the NY conference! I am a fan of both the winter and summer conferences, and each have their advantages. I haven’t found a match for the variety of workshops on craft at the summer conference, which is my fav. But if your mission is to meet the most editors and agents humanly possible, then I’d say the NYC winter conference is your choice. I recommend adding the Writer’s Intensive Day to your winter conference package though to make the weekend more worthwhile.
I strive for funny and I’m glad to occasionally hit that mark. :o) I have two NY conferences under my belt, but last year was my first time at the Writer’s Intensive. I plan on attending that event again too.

Your Bio talks about how you had a chance to study under the very awesome Sarah Dessen. You must give us the scoop!!! How did it happen? What was it like? What did you learn?

For a few years I worked in the Student Affairs office at UNC-Chapel Hill helping with their summer reading program. And one of my employee benefits was a free class each semester. So I took all the creative writing classes they had to offer, and one of them was taught by the fantabulous Sarah Dessen. It wasn’t a young adult writing class per se–but I wrote my first story with a teen protagonist in that class. Sarah really liked it, and she suggested I submit it to this local magazine contest called Carolina Woman. So I did, and it won 2nd place! And I got to read my story at a special event at Barnes and Noble, which was pretty much the coolest thing ever. Sarah gave me my first taste of what it would be like to be a professional writer, and I’m so grateful that she gave me that encouragement.
Wow! What a great experience. I’ve had the good fortune of attending a couple small workshops with the amazing K.L. Going, I can imagine how empowering the whole process was for you. Congrats on that 2nd place. Now I’ve held off as long as I possibly can…I’m very hungry right now…talk about the pizza!!!!

Mmmm…pizza! I always say my love affair with pizza began in NYC, because NYC and CT (yes, we drove to CT just for pizza) make some darn good pie. But it isn’t actually true. Long before this, Hubby was making homemade pies in North Carolina. And I remember vacationing to Italy and spending pretty much the entire trip tracking down pizza joints! I am not even kidding you that we didn’t ride a gondola or set foot in a museum. We ate pizza until we practically popped. Hubby is a great cook, and before I met him, I’m not sure I even liked food. Now I live for it, and if I eat a bad meal–even if it’s just lunch on a weekday, I get really upset. Foodie freak? Afraid so. Hubby spoils me! It’s both a blessing and a curse. For the record though, I only care about taste. The best pizza in the world is made by this old man who looks like Geppetto at a hole-in-the wall in the middle of nowhere Brooklyn.
I’ve been salivating over your pizza pictures for what seems like years now. One day you’re going to open your door and I’m just going to be standing there with my stomach growling. Oh and by-the-way. Don’t forget to check out THE SWEET LIFE OF STELLA MADISON, a great foodie YA by Lara Zeisis.

When you moved from NY to CA how did you make the transition as a writer? Did you keep the same writing group? Did SCBWI play a role in you finding new support? I know that there are lots of people who have to pack up and move…any tips?
It’s funny that you should ask me this, because just today I found out that I’ll be moving to Boston! Eeek! Moving across the country, it’s what I do. This will be like my sixth time? I don’t know, I’ve lost count. SCBWI is my savior when it comes to making friends and finding critique groups. Most areas have an SCBWI critique connections person and a list serve so you can find people who live near you. I’m actually the SCBWI Critique Connections Coordinator for Southern CA. I guess I’ll have to pass my crown now that I’ll be a Boston girl.
As for tips, I try to look at every life experience as writing fodder. Every new place I live is a new setting for a book. And meeting new people inspires new characters. I think this philosophy can get you through so many painful things. I just keep thinking, you know somehow I can use this in a story.
Ummmm all I’m going to say is Go Yankees!!! *giggle*. It has also come to my attention that you’ve worked as a 7th grade english teacher and as an online writer for a bookseller. I was wondering what these two life experiences have given you as a writer?

Working for Bookspan/Doubleday Entertainment taught me discipline. I had to produce what at the time felt like an impossible number of words every week. I learned how to put in the hours that writing a book really requires. And writing author bios all day, I was constantly reminded what I wanted my future to look like.
I’m psyched to put everything I learned as a teacher to good use doing school visits and readings. I can put together a presentation and feel comfortable in the classroom. And it’s great to know what the teacher is thinking when I write school scenes. I believe being inside the heads of all my characters, even if they aren’t the protagonist enriches my writing.
We have time for one last question. We need to know what your top 5 books are and don’t forget to tell us how they have influenced you.

1. Self Editing for Fiction Writers: How to Edit Yourself into Print by Renni Browne and Dave King—This is the best book on revision I’ve ever read, and I felt like my writing went to a new place afterward.
2. A Confederacy of Dunces by John Kennedy Toole—This is probably my favorite book of all time. It’s a rip-roaring comedy with an incredible main character, and I hope someday to write a book this funny and poignant.
3. Before I Die by Jenny Downham –I am in awe of this book about a girl with leukemia. The voice is amazing and life affirming.
4. The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins—Of course there’s been tons of buzz about this book and for good reason. I can’t remember a time when I was so riveted while reading. The pacing is something to marvel over.
5. Weetzie Bat by Francesca Lia Block—The language in this book! Weetzie Bat reminds me that as artists we should let our inner creative go wild.
I have to agree with you on the HUNGER GAMES by Suzanne Collins. It had me up until 2am every night. It was an absolute page turner. The rest are going on my list to check out.

I want to thank Edith Cohn for being a little freaky and joining us. If she now has you in her gravitational pull, feel free to stop by and say hello to her. You can also find her on Facebook, Livejournal and Twitter. Edith, I’ll see you in NY…we’ll meet for pizza :o)

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Freaky Friday-Interview with aspiring children’s author Tara Lazar

October 2, 2009 |

If you’ve seen the movie Freaky Friday, you know that its premise is about change and growth through role reversal. For my Friday Blog entry I thought it would be interesting to interview aspiring writers; the same writers who spend lots of time reading the interviews of published authors and dreaming of the day when they might get their book on the shelves…
This week’s Freaky Friday Interview is with Tara Lazar. She has a wonderful blog called Writing for Kids (While Raising Them) and I can certainly relate to that. Like I usually do, when I ask someone to get their Friday Freak on and join us, (by us I mean me and my cat that likes to drool on my computer and YOU since you did stop by) I asked Tara to jump in an tell me a little bit about herself.
Tara, could you give me a brief intro about yourself? I like to let the interviewee pick a starting point because it’s interesting to see how people choose to describe themselves.

I always cringe when people ask me to briefly describe myself. I’m not a high-concept novel. I cannot be boiled down to one line, people!
(How’s that for a start?)
–Tara
Oooooo that is perfect. I love a sassy interviewee LOL! We will jump right in and see where we land. What do you write and how did you start writing for children?
I write picture books, short stories and middle grade novels. Well, the novels are in progress so I suppose I can’t claim to have written one until they’re actually done.
When I was seven years old, I wrote a book of fractured fairytales and my best friend Francine illustrated it. I stretched the truth and told my great-grandparents that we had “published a book.” This 70 year-old Italian couple–who only got in the Buick once a year to attend midnight mass–drove 30 minutes to the nearest bookstore and gave the evil eye to the manager when they couldn’t find it. Whoopsie.
I got serious about writing for kids exactly two years ago, when my youngest daughter turned one year old. Now, instead of being up with a crying baby at 2am, I’m crying over my baby (my manuscript) at 2am.
Your great-grand parents are the BEST!!!! I see a future book dedication in there.

I’ve talked to many aspiring authors who are working in some combination of picture books, short stories/articles, middle grade and young adult novels. I know from my own experience my YA is deeply routed in my own development. I think my social/emotional growth hit a speed bump during the teen years so now I find myself writing the things that I needed to read and still think about. My picture books are driven a bit more by the day to day life of my three boys. How does this work for you? Since your MG is your current work in progress, do you want to tell us a little bit about it?

Right now I’m focusing on picture books. In November, instead of doing NaNoWriMo, I’m sponsoring PBIMo (Picture Book Idea Month), where picture book writers are encouraged to develop one new picture book concept a day. It’s an exercise in idea generation. We’ve already got some awesome authors participating: Tammi Sauer (CHICKEN DANCE), Michael Sussman (OTTO GROWS DOWN), and Corey Rosen Schwartz (HOP! PLOP!). Illustrators Sarah Dillard, Jannie Ho, Jennifer Thermes and others are going to create one illustration a day to join us. Hey, join us, too! You don’t have to pledge anything, just give it a try. You might end the month with 30 new picture book ideas.
Wow!!! I heard about PBIMo at Rutgers last year and it sounds great. Where can other interested PB writers go to get on board?

(Not sure you heard about it at Rutgers last year. I did it on my own last year and it didn’t have a name. I may have mentioned I was doing it on the blueboards, when people said they were going to try to write a PB a day during November and I said I’ll do an idea a day instead. Paula Yoo did a PiBoWriWee last May, which isn’t the same thing as this.)
You’re right, it was a picture book a day. I remember, now that you mention it. I love your idea of having an idea every day. Its something that can be done no matter where you are or what else you’re doing. What a great treasure box to have when writer’s block hits.

We had the pleasure of briefly meeting at a Blue Boarder event at the Rutgers One-on-One Conference last year, but we’ve gotten to know each other better on-line. Your blog captured my attention because you had the best notes post-conference!!! Now you might think that I’m going to ask about conferences and on-line relationships, but I want to know about attention to detail. Obviously, from your notes, you have that skill. I could use more of it *sigh*…I tend to be a fly-by-the-seat-of-my-pants-kind of a girl. I have moments of organizational brilliance, but sometimes it feels as if I’m trying to find the corner in a round room. It worries me sometimes that my process may come off as scattered and unprofessional when its really just edgy and quirky (I’ve renamed it in case any editors or agents ever read this). Tell me a little bit about what it feels like to be on the other side?

Regarding my conference notes–I write fast! No big secret there. The best way for me to learn is by taking detailed notes. Then I go home and type them up. If I simply sit and listen, I forget things. Even if the speaker says, “I have a hand-out, don’t bother writing this down,” I STILL take notes. Because if I don’t write it, I don’t learn it.
So don’t let the notes fool you. I’m not some super-organized A-type personality. The beds are unmade, I’ve hit the “de-wrinkle” button on the dryer for the 17th time today, and I forgot to defrost the chicken for tonight’s dinner. Oh yeah, I’m a rebel!
But as I’ve learned over the past year, picture books require organization and structure in order to work. While I can sometimes pump out a story in fly-by-seat-of-my-pants mode, sometimes I do better outlining first. I guess I’ve got both a yin and a yang side to me. I’m ambidextrous, which probably explains it.

Phew…good to know that you aren’t in possession of super powers. Maybe the perfect combination is to have a little bit of both. By-the-way…its really cool that you’re ambidextrous. You can comfortably color with your kids no matter where you are sitting in the restaurant!
It’s that time a year again…Banned Books Week and the The Cybil Awards. Any thoughts on either of these two topics?
I think one of the most disturbing trends is parents asking young adult books to be moved to the adult section of the library, under the falsehood that they’re not actually censoring or banning these books. What’s more, the books in question are often found objectionable by out-of-context words or passages that don’t necessarily reflect the content of the entire book.

One of the best quotes I’ve heard about book banning is this: “Censorship, like charity, should begin at home; and unlike charity, it should end there.” If parents are concerned with what their children are reading, they should read the book themselves and engage their children in a guided discussion. It’s okay for parents to tell their child “no” if a book doesn’t agree with what the parents teach in the home. It’s not okay for parents to assume that the rules in their home are the rules by which the rest of the world lives. Other children shouldn’t be prevented from accessing a book that may speak to them. Richard Peck says, “A book might be the companion that a child needs.”
Regarding the Cybils, I can’t wait to start nominating some of my favorite books!
I love your thoughts on Banned Book Week and we would all be smart to heed the wise words of Richard Peck.

I’m having so much fun, but its about time to find out about your top five books and how they have influenced you.

My top five books include short story anthologies, like Joyce Carol Oates’ “Heat” which I re-read constantly. You’ll often find it in my handbag. I’m obsessed with the story “The Swimmers” which is told from a young girl’s point of view, piecing together details of her uncle’s affair with a mysterious new woman in town whom he meets at the Y pool. I’m drawn to the innocence of the narrator as she analyzes adult situations beyond her understanding. I try to think of that point of view whenever I write for kids. I have to make sense of the adult world, but through a child’s eyes.
Story collections from Flannery O’Connor, Alice Munro, Jhumpa Lahiri, Tom Perrotta, T. Coraghessen Boyle—these are the favorite books on my shelf, along with the annual anthologies from Pushcart and The Best American Short Stories. I can’t explain why I often get more satisfaction from reading 6 pages than I do from 600. Maybe some novels meander and tell me too much.
My childhood favorite was (and still is) Charlie and the Chocolate Factory by Roald Dahl. I thought Dahl had the craziest, most wonderful imagination to be able to create such a deliciously wacky world. The irony kills me, though: I don’t even like to eat chocolate! But that’s how I want to write–fun, wild, outrageous, on the edge of suspended belief.
It’s going to sound trite that some of my other favorite children’s books are now movies, but it’s true. I’m a foodie, so Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs fascinated me as a child. I wanted to live in the land of Chewandswallow. Imagine eating whatever fell from the sky, and it’s all delicious!
And on the non-fiction side, the book Playful Parenting affected my life as a mother. My blog is “Writing for Kids (While Raising Them)”, so I can’t get away without mentioning the kids. Lawrence J. Cohen showed me how to connect with my children as a fun *and* firm mom.
OK, that’s more than five, but I’m lumping all those short story collections into one book. Does that count?
It is perfect…except that part about the chocolate. :o)

Make sure you join PBIMo, check out Tara’s SUPER INFORMATIVE blog and catch her on twitter or Facebook. She is a wealth of information and destined for the bookshelves of your local bookstore. Thanks Tara.


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Freaky Friday-Interview with aspiring children’s author Linda Hanlon

September 25, 2009 |

If you’ve seen the movie Freaky Friday, you know that its premise is about change and growth through role reversal. For my Friday Blog entry I thought it would be interesting to interview aspiring writers; the same writers who spend lots of time reading the interviews of published authors and dreaming of the day when they might get their book on the shelves…
This week’s interview is close to my heart. Linda Hanlon is one of the first friends I made when I started attending local SCBWI events and she is a member of my local writing group C’RAP (Children’s ‘Riters Always Procrastinate). I’m going to jump right in because she has so much to offer.
OK Linda, I know you’re a little shy, so I’m going to jump right in. We first met through our local SCBWI local Shop Talk and then gravitated towards each other to form our writing group C’RAP. Once a month Shop Talk meets at Barnes and Noble. You have a little bit of insider information about the location. Can you fill us in?

I’ve worked at B & N for a LONG time, haha! The SCBWI ShopTalk group had been meeting there for some time before I got involved in SCBWI. It meets on the last Saturday of each month at 10am, but it goes on hiatus in Nov. & Dec. for the store’s holiday season. I worked on the book floor, near the meeting area and I couldn’t help but overhear bits of the meetings as I worked. I was always tempted to put down the stack of books I was shelving and sit in. Everyone involved seemed so creative & committed to writing for children and teens. I was just starting to get interested in writing for teens again myself. But it wasn’t until 2004 that I got involved with SCBWI, when I went to my first Upstate NY conference.
I learned about the conference in a roundabout way – everything seems to happen to me in a roundabout kind of way, almost never in a direct way! I was also working in an art supply store in ’04 and one of the regular customers was James Ransome, an award-winning childrens’ picture book illustrator. We would talk about his work & about my writing whenever he came in and he was the one who told me about SCBWI and the conference – he and his wife/collaborator, writer Lesa Cline-Ransome, were speaking there. He even brought in the info and application brochure for me. I was especially interested in the manuscript critiques because I hadn’t had my fiction critiqued by a professional in several years. I asked my close friend and then-coworker, Michelle Mead, if she wanted to go too, because she worked in the childrens’ department and I knew she was also interested in childrens writing. (You will find out more about Michelle when you interview her for Freaky Friday!) So we went to the conference, got inspired by all the breakout lecture sessions and met some great people. Writer Ellen Yeomans, who was also the Upstate NY Regional Advisor at the time, gave me a positive & constructive critique on my manuscript for a teen novel (that I’ve backburnered since then) and that helped me believe in myself as a writer for teens.
After the conference, Michelle and I went to our first ShopTalk meeting and since then, I’ve made sure to set aside the last Saturday of each month exclusively for writing. It sometimes seems weird to be sitting with the group with all the activity of the store going on, as if I’m neglecting the store, even though I’m not scheduled to work. Yeah, working at B & N has given me some “issues” – haha! But it’s worth it, to be able to have the time to share with fellow ShopTalk/SCBWI writers, & to give my writing the commitment that it needs. And I’ve met some great people who are talented writers at the meetings, including you, Kim! 🙂
This is fantastic BTW! Now I don’t want you giving up any trade secrets that will get you in trouble at work, but I know the handful of people who actually read this blog would love to know some of the insider information that you have stock piled from your experiences at B&N. I’m also curious if there is a disconnect between what corporate thinks about YA and what the people who are perusing the shelves in the YA department think.

You want more info about working at B & N – OK, I’ll do my best.
I guess working in a bookstore is probably a fitting “day job” for a book-addict and writer like me. It’s kind of an extension of the school libraries, where I spent most of my free time as a student growing up. I wasn’t athletic, so while the other kids were playing kickball during recess, I hid out in the library – reading, writing stories, and drawing pictures. I knew I wanted to write books since even before school, when I realized that people had created the stories my mom read to me at bedtime. I could read by Kindergarten and started writing stories in first grade. The library was my training-ground, and the authors of my favorite books were my role models.
I studied journalism in college, and always thought that working in the bookstore would be a temporary job until I could get into the journalism/media field. For various reasons, I wasn’t able to get work as a journalist, so I’ve stayed at the bookstore. But it’s worked out OK, because my heart is really in fiction writing, so I want to spend all my writing energy on writing my novels, instead of news reporting.
I’ve learned a lot about the retail and marketing end of publishing from working at B & N. I can see the sales numbers of different titles, and know the topics that are trending each season. I can tell the authors who are getting a lot of publishers’ support just by where their books are placed on the sales floor. I can see what books are unsuccessful by the number of returns we do each month. And I can see the long-term success of titles that spend weeks and months on the bestseller list.
And I’ve learned about the readers, too, and how they spend their money. I notice the reading habits of regular customers by the titles they buy. I know what books make the reading lists at different schools, and what titles are chosen for the various book clubs in the area. And the books that people choose as holiday gifts each year. But an aspiring writer can learn a lot about the book industry too, by paying attention to things like displays and the floor layout when they shop in bookstores.
As for YA/Teen books, I think B & N is very supportive of the growing category, as much as the readers are. The best-selling Harry Potter, Eragon and Twilight books have paved the way, with both young readers, teens and adult readers. The location where I work has devoted a lot of floor space to the YA/Teen department, in a very visible spot. Many readers will buy a whole series of books, or several titles by different authors, so I think it’s a moneymaker, for the company and for publishing in general. I can see the trends among YA/Teen books, too – from the wizard and sword & sorcery fantasies spawned by Harry Potter, through the vampire books inspired by Twilight, and now the growing angel and dead kids trend, that you just spoke about in your blog, Kim!
I love your story on how you lurked around Shop Talk until you joined. I never knew that, but I could picture you perfectly. This year you were my AWESOME roommate at the NY SCBWI conference. I was wondering what you thought about the differences between a smaller local (aka-more intimate conference) and a large OMG affair?

Well, the answer to that question can be found in my blog (haha, shameless self-promotion!) at www.write-rite-rightabouttime.blogspot.com. I wrote in long detail about attending both conferences this year.
I’m still so grateful that you encouraged me to attend the NYC conference in February – it was fun to be your roommate and we had a great, productive “pajama party” talking about our projects. I appreciate all the input you gave me about my ending – it helped me to see it much clearer. And it was a blast to meet and hang out with some of your writing friends! And, of course, a highlight was when we met Jay Asher, author of “Thirteen Reasons Why.” And all of the lectures from so many respected authors and editors were informative and inspiring. There was plenty of time and space for it all during the conference’s two days. But I admit, it was a bit intimidating for a first-time attendee like me! I could hardly fathom the number of attendants – SCBWI’s Executive Director Lin Oliver said there were 1,056 people, from 46 states and 15 countries, and about half of them are published. The conference felt like the Big Time to me, and the excitement and sensory overload were nearly overwhelming. But now that I know what to expect, I’m definitely looking forward to next winter’s NYC conference!
This summer’s Mid-Hudson conference was the sixth one I’ve attended, and by now, it feels homey and comfortable, yet still stimutating. We are always fortunate to have notable authors and editors as keynote speakers and breakout session lecturers. It’s great to see the familiar faces of a lot of our writing peers, as well as local authors. And, because it’s been in the same hotel location for the past four years, it’s easy to nagivate around the lobby, dining hall, and conference rooms. I’m so glad we have such a high-quality conference in our hometown!
But, because it’s just one day long, it all seems to go by in a flash. It’s great to meet and catch up with our writing peers, but the amount of time for networking and just chatting seems rushed. For many of us, it’s OK, because we frequently see each other at the Shop Talk meetings. But I would have liked some more time to talk with some of our out-of-town writing friends. It would be great if the Mid-Hudson conference could adopt the NYC conference idea of a cocktail/networking hour at the end of the day. To me, that would be the best of both worlds!
I agree. Now this is a little bit more personal, since you are an illustrious member of C’RAP (Children’s ‘Riters Always Procrastinate) our writing group, I’m privy to the fact that you like to start novels. Now, the buck stops here, the cycle is being broken. Your current WIP is way too good to not finish it, but I wondered if you could speak to that thing that keeps you from finishing. I ask because I think when you are interviewing aspiring authors, you are interviewing a bunch of people who are scared to death that they just aren’t good enough. Some days, when the rejections role in, if feels as if the only reason we are here is that we are flying by the seats of our courage. I think we all self sabatoge in one way or another, but maybe if we support each other, we’ll all be a little bit braver and stronger in a business that challenges on so many levels.

OK Kim-about my work in progress, and my penchant for starting a book, constantly re-writing it, and then moving on to a new project before my first one is finished. I’ve thought long and hard about this, and I’m working toward my goal of actually completing a book. It’s not that I can’t finish a book – I know I can. In fact, I wrote my first full-length novel, as a creative writing assignment when I was in 5th grade. I wrote a chapter each week, until it was finished. The fun I had writing it was as rewarding as the A’s and the encouragement I got from my teacher. If life now could only be as easy as when I was 10! I had lots of time to go into a writing zone, and not emerge until I had a finished story or book chapter. I imagined my grown-up self – a professional writer, with unlimited time to write, and shelves of published books to show for it.
Reality check! As an adult dealing with the publishing world today, I now know that kind of writing career is rare. Or else that level of success is hard-won, over a long time. Like many writers, I have to give up my time to a day job, and write in whatever time is left over after obligations and responsibilities.
I’m always trying to find the time to write, and I never feel like I have enough of it. Sure, I have small bits here and there, but not often enough the large, uninterrupted block of time I need to really get much productive work done. And when I find the time, it’s sometimes hard to focus on just writing, with so many thoughts and distractions in my head. When I do get into a writing zone, it’s great, and I’m usually pretty satisfied with my work. But those times are pretty rare these days. Plus, I think I have undiagnosed ADD or something! It’s hard to truly focus my mind on one thing at a time, especially on one writing project at a time. I’m fortunate that I have no problem coming up with new ideas, but that can be a problem too – so many things can inspire a story idea, that I have all these ideas, and characters, and bits of scenes and dialogue floating around in my head, all wanting to get out and get written down. So I’ll write it down in a notebook, and then I’ll get really interested in developing it into a book. I’ll get into working on the project, and it’s interesting to me… until another idea, character, bit of scene and dialogue pushes up to the front of my mind, demanding attention. So I’ll write that down in a different notebook, and that will capture my interest, and I’ll want to work on developing that into a book, so I’ll start working on that… until yet another idea, etc. pushes its way to my attention, and then I’ll start thinking about that one, and on and on and on… it’s an endless cycle. I actually have about 20 unfinished books, in various stages of development. And whenever I get an idea for a new book, I tell myself – this is the one that I’m going to finish. I do have the intention to finish, I just need to find the focus, and the discipline, and the time to follow up my intention to completion.
Anyway, I’m determined that “What Luck,” my current work-in-progress will be the one I finish. It’s a tween novel, about a 13-year-old girl who’s overwhelmed by all the changes in her life – the pressure of being smart enough to start high school a year early, her father’s job instability and her mother’s high-risk pregnancy. When her eccentric great-grandmother moves in, she says that all problems are due to bad luck, and that luck will improve by following superstitious rituals. The girl starts following the superstitions, and her luck seems to improve, but wonders if they are real or if it’s just all in her head.
I’ve submitted the first chapter of “What Luck” for critique at a couple of SCBWI conferences and at a writing workshop, and have gotten some positive feedback. That’s encouraging, and it keeps me going. I really want to see it to its end, especially since I’ve got several book and character ideas clamoring for attention in my head. I’m trying to hold them back though, and give “What Luck” the concentration and work that it needs. The encouragement I’ve gotten from writing friends like Michelle and you, Kim, really helps a lot!
It also helps that my boyfriend, Ian Wickstead, understands – he’s a photographer, and knows what it’s like to struggle with time constraints and creativity. He’s very good at knowing when I need undisturbed time for writing, and doesn’t get pouty if I’m not paying attention to him. He also is a good listener when I read my work to him, even if he says he doesn’t know much about writing to be able to critique it. But he’s great at being able to tell me if something is working or not. One thing that makes our relationship work is our respect for each other’s creative needs, and our support for each other’s work. (I guess that’s two things!) But I appreciate Ian’s support, and the support of my friends, and any success that I may get from my writing, I will share with them.
Thanks, Kim, this was fun!
Ian’s a very good photographer, so make sure to click his link and see his work. You can’t go yet Linda. I need your top 5 books!

Your question about my top 5 books is really hard to answer!! As a longtime book addict & bookseller, I have so many different books and authors who have become my favorites. There are books for every kind of mood, or time period of life. So I could never narrow it all down to just 5!! How about 10? Ha-ha!!
Instead, how about 10 YA/teen authors who have inspired me most in my own writing for teens? That might not be easy, but I’ll give it a try –
1. Madeleine L’Engle – I’ve loved her books since I first read “A Wrinkle in Time” when I was around 10 years old. I was fascinated by the way science and fantasy collided with the real lives of her characters. She writes very strong family themes, too. A great balance of real and fantastical life that I hope to find in my own writing. And I do believe that “there is such a thing as a tesseract.”
2. Lois Duncan – Her suspenseful page-turners were some of my favorite books growing up. And in many of her stories, she works elements of the paranormal and fantasy in with the realistic emotions and situations of teens’ lives. Another inspiration to my writing.
3. Judy Blume – I grew up reading her books, and remember the controversy over her frank and truthful depiction of teens and tweens, and their thoughts, emotions, and sometimes troubled lives. She was one of the first authors to tackle problems like divorce, body issues and self-esteem, first love, and the grief over losing a family member. I connected with her stories during my angsty teen years, and she inspires me to write as honestly as I can about my own characters’ struggles and feelings.
4. Paula Danziger – I’ve always loved her mix of humor, drama, and social issues in her teen/tween characters’ lives. Her writing always showed the heart beneath the humor, and was always hopeful. I have memorized parts of my favorite books of hers – I’ve read them so many times. Her writing reminds me to include a reason for a smile and a feeling of hope, even in the darkest stories.
5. Francesca Lia Block – My favorite modern writer for teens (and adults too). She is truly unique, and her poetic, emotional, artistic writing always blows me away. Her wildly creative, often fanciful words give beautiful expression to some dark and heavy themes, such as abuse, addiction, mental illness, prejudice and other situations that many readers can relate to. Her overall message is love, though. Her writing inspires me to try to write without fear, over the edges of creativity.
6. Laurie Halse Anderson – She is like a modern-day Judy Blume, with her portrayal of teens overcoming rough times and situations, like rape, anorexia, and false criminal accusations. She also writes about teens going through hard times in history. Another author who inspires me to write honestly, no matter how tough the subject matter.
7. K. L. Going – Her books depict her characters with heart and humor, even within hard-hitting situations. Her “anti-heros” – a suicidal fat kid, a troubled street kid, a timid young boy – always find the hero within themselves. Another fearless writer who inspires me to make sure the traits of my characters always ring true, even if – especially if – they are flawed.
8. Jane Yolen – She reworks fantasy and folktales in her own unique way, and her stories seem timeless. She creates real, relatable characters, to draw the reader into the larger themes of her stories. Her work is an inspiration to my own series of modern-day fairy/folktales – to make my own story within the framework of the traditional tale.
9. Stephenie Meyer – I have to mention the writer of the Twilight phenomenon – first, because I’m grateful that her books have given YA/teen publishing a great shot in the arm & have encouraged readership among the most reluctant readers. Her writing also reminds me that the most well-loved books are all about character. Without Edward and Bella, the Twilight books might just as well be another retread of the same-old vampire story.
10. J. K. Rowling – Her Harry Potter series inspires me too, because of the dedication and craft she put into her epic, 7- book story. And I admire how multi-layered it is – not just the story of good vs. evil, but of friendship and loyalty, history and the corruption of power, and the struggle to become the person you’re meant to be. Her series brought YA/teen books back into the forefront of publishing, and I’m grateful to her too!
You have some of my favorites on that list ;o) Thank you so much for getting Freaky with us. Please stop by and visit Linda on Facebook or her Blog. I’m also packing Linda in my suitcase for the next NY SCBWI so if you’re planning on going, you can meet her then.


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