Blogger Book Tag

Okay, so yes I'm going to do it here too because I've been tagged on this blog. Different book...

Rules:

1. Pick up the nearest book.

2. Open to page 123.

3. Find the fifth sentence.

4. Post the next three sentences, so if my math is correct that’d be sentences six, seven and eight.

5. Tag five people and post a comment to the blogger who tagged you (so in my case it’s Fiona and if I tagged you then you post here to my blog). Here goes.

The nearest book where I'm seated today happens to be my own. I wasn't going to post my own but it's the nearest book and those are the rules...so from In the Garage

I try to rub my eyes, but can't move my hands. I jerk them but they're tied to something. Shit! Where the hell am I?


And that is that. So now I have to go find 5 people to tag. Damn you, Lizann. ;)

Author InterviewDotti Enderle

02/17/07

Welcome, Dotti. Thank you for joining me here for an interview .

AF - What inspired you to be a writer?

DE - I was quite the romantic when I was younger. Writing was expression, and I had a knack for it. After having children I discovered my love for children's stories and books. I just took it from there.

AF - Can you tell us about your latest book release?

DE - My latest is a picture book called Grandpa for Sale, which I co-authored with my friend, Vicki Sansum. This is my time working with Flashlight Press, which is a small, but phenomenal publisher! I've found that Shari, my editor, has more insight than anyone I've ever worked with. And the illustrations by T. Kyle Gentry are fantastic. I am so proud of this book.

AF - What prompted you to write your books? Are they based on true life or are they completely fiction?

DE - I think there's a little "true life" in every fiction book. I've have sixteen books in print and four more on the way. They all were inspired by various means. It would take me all day to elaborate.

AF - Would you take us through your typical writing day?

DE - I never have a typical writing day. For the most part, I sleep in, eat breakfast, read, run on the treadmill, take a shower, run errands, then write. And I don't write every day. I try, but I'm human.

AF - Do you think about your readers when you write a book?

DE - Yes. Mostly I think about my characters, but when I'm trying to pen that perfect sentence, it's for the readers' benefit. I'd never want to cheat them.

AF - What sort of things do you do when you're not writing?

DE - Usually reading. But I'm a big-time movie fan. And I'm particularly partial to horror films. Even the cheesy B films. I love going on Saturday night about 8:00 because 99% of the audience is high school kids. They react to every little thing. And then there's always a couple of guys who yell back at the screen. It's so much fun!

AF - What are some of your favorite things?

DE - Collecting action figures of my favorite characters, hanging out with my two daughters, eating vanilla yogurt with frozen blueberries, traveling alone.

AF - Many writers speak about writer's block. Do you ever have that, and if so what are some things you do to get over it?

DE - Oh yeah, I do get it occasionally. I don't force myself to write. Instead I talk online to other writers who also have writer's block. We have a Writer's Block Party. Sometimes it gets pretty rowdy.

AF - If you could say one thing to a new writer what would it be?

DE - Be patient! Publishing is actually slower than the government. And read, read, read! It's important to keep up with what's being published, even though you're not chasing trends.

AF - If you could say one thing to the children reading your books what would that be?

DE - Thank you. I get fan mail from kids, and they're the most sincere of readers. I love being a children's author.

AF - When it comes to writing what's next for you?

DE - I'm working on a paranormal YA with five main characters. It's tough for me since I have such a one-track mind. I love what I'm writing, but I'm also looking forward to working on a novel with just one character to worry about.

AF - Are you available for signings, school visits and writing workshops?

DE - Absolutely! You can learn more about my programs at my website http://www.dottienderle.com/ or contact me at enderle4@earthlink.net

Author Interview Shelly Becker

Welcome, Shelly. Thank you for joining me here for an interview. First off What inspired you to be a writer?

SB - One day, several years ago, my husband challenged me to try to write a picture book. I'm not sure if he meant it, but the idea would not leave me alone. When I showed him my first attempt at a picture book, he said, "This is good! You should submit it." That's how I discovered that I LOVED writing.

AF -Can you tell us a little about your road to publication?

SB - When I first started to meet other writers and learn more about this business, I was shocked to discover how long it took for most writers to get their work published, if they ever got published at all.

I felt extremely fortunate and grateful when MINE! MINE! MINE! was accepted for publication after only 13 rejections (that's right-ONLY) and six months (which is nothing) of submitting it to publishers.

AF -What prompted you to write your books? Are they based on true life or are they completely fiction?

SB - My books are complete fiction, but they're certainly influenced by life. Art imitates life, right?

AF -Can you tell us a little about your latest book release?

SB -MINE! MINE! MINE! is a rhyming picture book about sharing, adorably illustrated by the very talented Hideko Takahashi.

It has been well received by children, teachers, parents, librarians, and reviewers. It was named in Atlanta Parent's 50 Must Read Children's Books annual listing in November 2006 and chosen as a Barnes and Noble Noteworthy Children's Book in February 2007.

AF - Do you think rhyming picture books are harder to sell?

SB - I don't think rhyming picture books are harder to sell, but they're definitely harder to write. Many new writers think if they can get the words at the end of the line to rhyme, they're doing it well, when in reality, there's a whole lot more to it than that.

AF - Would you take us through your typical writing day?

SB - As a wife and mother of four young children, I try to squeeze in writing time whenever, wherever and however I can. Sometimes that means early morning (usually not-I'm hardly a morning person), sometimes late at night (that's more common), and anytime in between. Sometimes, I think of ideas as I'm falling asleep or right when I wake up-I try to keep pen and paper near my bed for those times.

AF -Do you think about your readers when you write a book?

SB - No. When I write, I think about my characters and their stories.

AF - What sort of things do you do when you're not writing?

SB - When I'm not writing, I'm usually spending time with family and friends, reading, cooking, baking, exercising (especially if I've been doing a lot of cooking and baking), sewing, gardening, running errands, volunteering in my community and learning new things. I also spend a lot of time thinking. I think about all sorts of things, big and small, important and unimportant, general and specific.

AF - What are some of your favorite things?

SB -Raindrops on roses and whiskers on kittens…Ooops. Those aren't my favorite things. My favorite things are chocolate, books, and nature.

AF- Many writers speak about writer's block. Do you ever have that, and if so what are some things you do to get over it?

I have times when it's difficult to write, but I don't call it writer's block. I call it being too tired, too preoccupied, too busy, too scattered, too stuck on a tricky aspect of the plot, etc.
I usually get over it by identifying what it is, why it is, and thinking about solutions. If I'm too tired, I try to get more sleep, or caffeine, depending on the circumstances. If I'm too busy, I take a break from writing for a bit while I catch up on everything else. If I'm stuck on a tricky part of the plot, I'll switch to a different section or a whole different manuscript for a while.
Whatever it is, I know it will pass sooner or later, and I don't allow myself to panic because I know that won't help.

AF - If you could say one thing to a new writer what would it be?

SB - Just one thing? How about fifteen?

If I really, really, really had to choose just one thing, I'd say, "Keep writing, keep reading, keep learning, keep growing, and keep trying."
And then I'd have to bite my tongue to keep quiet.
(I know, I know. My one thing wasn't even one thing. Sorry. I just couldn't help myself.)

AF - If you could say one thing to the children reading your books what would that be?

SB -Great question! It would have to be, "Enjoy!"

AF -When it comes to writing what's next for you?

SB -I'm working on several picture book projects and a middle grade novel at the moment.

AF -Are you available for signings, school visits and writing workshops?

SB -I most certainly am and can be reached at shelly@shellybecker.com.

Author Interview-Molly Blaisdell

Welcome, Molly. Thank you for joining me here for an interview.
AF - What inspired you to be a writer?

MB - The books of Madeleine L'Engle and Lloyd Alexander.

AF - Can you tell us a little about your road to publication?

MB - I'm a member of SCBWI, my first RA told me it would take 10 years of honing my craft to actually see books in print. That was 1995. In 2005 my first phonics readers were published. I tried to follow that the sage advice to publish in the magazine market. I had no success at all. Then I discovered the educational market. From 2005 to 2007, I had 17 easy readers published, currently have 6 more under contract and have received my first contract for a picture book. My publishers include Perfection Learning Corporation, Harcourt School Book, Picture Window Books and Barron's Educational Series.

AF- What prompted you to write your books? Are they based on true life or are they completely fiction?

MB - I follow my passion. I write a mix of non-fiction and fiction works.

AF- Can you tell us a little about your latest book release?

MB- My most recent books on the market are part of a science reader series for Perfection Learning Corporation. Water All Around, Rock and Minerals and Motion in Space are all available from Powells or Amazon.

AF - Would you take us through your typical writing day?

MB - I schedule by tasks and not by time. I write my list of specific tasks that I intend to accomplish each day. Examples include rewrite a scene, add 1000 words to the current manuscript, work on the synopsis, create a submission package. I roll the unfinished tasks from the previous day onto the current day list. I tend to work about 4 hours every day.

AF - Do you think about your readers when you write a book?

MB - I do think about my readers but not when I'm actually writing. I submerge myself in the storytelling and the secondary world of story takes over.

AF - What sort of things do you do when you're not writing?

MB - I practice yoga, go for long walks, read lots of books, watch TV, play board and computer games and work in my yard. Oh, I also clean house, chauffer kids, volunteer in school class rooms and wash laundry.

AF - What are some of your favorite things?

MB - I really love a good book that keeps me up all night. I like going to movies, munching chocolate strawberries, visiting museums, and observing nature - volcanoes, whales, waterfalls, glaciers, bald eagles, eclipses etc. I'm up for almost everything.

AF - Many writers speak about writer's block. Do you ever have that, and if so what are some things you do to get over it?

MB - Yeah, I get that some times. My RX, read good books, go to a writing conference or an author visit, and focus your talent toward another artistic endeavor for a week or so - music, art, movies, whatever draws you in.

AF - If you could say one thing to a new writer what would it be?

MB -Reread the books that you loved as a child and read them as writer this time.

AF - If you could say one thing to the children reading your books what would that be?

MB -Read, read, read. The whole universe is within the pages of books.

AF - When it comes to writing what's next for you?

MB- My next project is a ghost story set in the Big Thicket of Texas.

AF - Are you available for signings, school visits and writing workshops?

MB - Absolutely. For schools, I like to talk about journaling and writing play. For writers I like to teach them how to target markets for their work.

Author Interview -Tracy Barrett

Welcome, Tracy. Thank you for joining me here for an interview .
AF - What inspired you to be a writer?

TB -I always liked writing and got good grades in creative writing at school but I never thought I had enough talent to be a writer. I went to college and then to graduate school and began teaching at a university. Although I really liked (and still like) my job I felt the need for something else and I decided that the skills I had learned in graduate school could be used in writing nonfiction for children. I wrote ten nonfiction books before my first young adult novel, Anna of Byzantium, was published. I still enjoy writing both fiction and nonfiction.

AF - Can you tell us about your latest book release?

TB -My two most recent books are nonfiction: The Ancient Greek World, co-written with Jennifer Roberts, and The Ancient Chinese World, co-written with Terry Kleeman. Both are published by Oxford University Press. Jen is a professor of ancient Greek history and Terry teaches ancient Chinese philosophy and religion. We worked collaboratively-they supplied most of the information and I did most of the writing, although they did some writing and I did some research. My most recent novel is On Etruscan Time, about an American boy who's spending the summer in Italy and travels to an ancient village to help save a boy from being unjustly executed for a crime he didn't commit.

AF - What prompted you to write your books? Are they based on true life or are they completely fiction?

TB - Usually what happens is I get an idea and can't shake it. It's like getting a tune stuck in your head-the only way to get rid of it (for me, anyway) is to listen to it. So when I get a character or a scene or a problem in my head and it won't leave me alone I write about it to get rid of it. If I'm lucky that character or scene or problem will lead to another, and then another, until I have a whole book! Anna of Byzantium is based on a real 12th-century Byzantine princess but my other novels are pure fiction.

AF -Would you take us through your typical writing day?

TB - I don't have a typical day! If I have a heavy teaching load on a particular day I usually don't get any writing done, although I think about it and sometimes do some mental pre-writing. On days when I don't have many classes or during vacation I write most of the morning and revise for a little while in the afternoon.

AF -Do you think about your readers when you write a book?

TB - Not when I'm writing fiction-I just write what I feel needs to happen. When writing nonfiction I keep in mind the background knowledge that my readers might or might not have, the curriculum requirements for the grade I'm writing for, that kind of thing.

AF - What sort of things do you do when you're not writing?

TB- I teach! When I'm not doing either, I read a lot, like most writers. I also like to cook and knit. I get bored easily so I try out new recipes a lot and I knit very complicated designs. See http://www.tracybarrett.com/bio.htm for an example!

AF- What are some of your favorite things?

TB - My family-books-museums-dogs-Italy.

AF - Many writers speak about writer's block. Do you ever have that, and if so what are some things you do to get over it?

TB - Yes, I do. I know some writers say it doesn't exist, and congratulations to them, but I get it! I have two solutions: first, I try to figure out what's blocking me. Almost always it's that I've set up a situation where a character has to do a certain thing but the way I've written about that character they wouldn't be the kind of person who would do whatever it is I want them to do. If that doesn't work I go to a different project. I always have more than one thing going. If I'm stuck on one I go to the other and by the time I go back to the first I often find that I've come unstuck.

AF- If you could say one thing to a new writer what would it be?

TB - Trust yourself. Listen to advice, see if it works, and if it doesn't, don't follow it. Write what you need to write, what's keeping you up at night, what you want to puzzle out.

AF - If you could say one thing to the children reading your books what would that be?

TB - Be adventurous. Read new things, and know that sometimes what's new seems uncomfortable at first, but you might find a side of yourself you never knew you had.

AF - When it comes to writing what's next for you?

TB - I'm working on a middle-grade mystery series called "The Sherlock Files." There will be four books published by Henry Holt Books for Young Readers, starting with The Hundred-Year-Old Secret and followed by The Beast of Blackslope. I don't have titles for the other two yet. I'm also almost finished with the first draft of a novel set in Bronze Age Greece.

AF- Are you available for signings, school visits and writing workshops?

TB- Yes, I love doing them. See http://www.scbwi-midsouth.org/speakers.htm#Tracy_Barrett for details.

Author Interview - Verla Kay

Welcome, Verla. Thank you for taking the time to let me interview you. Q. What inspired you to be a writer?

VK -I wanted to write stories that were fun to read to younger children. It seemed like so many of the fun books were for older kids.

AF- Can you tell us a little about your road to publication?

VK - I took the ICL (Institute of Children's Literature) course to learn to write well for kids. I thought I already knew it all, but figured it wouldn't hurt to learn maybe a thing or two about the submitting end of things. After I got into the course, I realized I didn't know half as much as I thought about anything! It was a great start.

My first picture book took one day to write, and two years to perfect so it was good enough to submit. Then it took another 3 1/2 years of submitting before I found the editor that said, "I love your story and want to publish it!" Six years later, I finally saw it in print. In May of 2007 my 8th book will be published! Yay!

AF -What prompted you to write your books? Are they based on true life or are they completely fiction?

VK - All of my books (that have sold) are history-based. Most are historical fiction, two are non-fiction.

AF - Can you tell us a little about your latest book release?

VK - Rough, Tough Charley is a non-fiction biography about a stagecoach driver from the 1850's and 60's. Charley was noted as the safest and fastest stagecoach driver in the motherlode during California's gold rush days. But Charley had a secret that no one knew about until his death. It's one of my favorite stories I've ever written, and the back of the book holds a lot of extra facts about Charley that aren't in the actual story itself. It's written in my signature style of "cryptic rhyme." (That's what I call my style of rhyme.)

AF - Would you take us through your typical writing day?

VK- I normally get up about 6 or 7 am and go straight to my desk. I spend several hours doing email, checking my website <http://www.verlakay.com/> -- especially my message board, which had over 600,000 hits in the month of January! It's a very busy message board for people who write and illustrate for children. By lunch time I've finished writing, gotten showered and dressed. (Except two days a week when I go to a wellness center gym for exercise, swimming, etc. first thing in the morning. Then my whole day is shot!) Mid-day is spent with my legally blind, almost 95-year-old mother-in-law who lives with my husband and I. By 9:00 pm she is normally in bed, and I can relax and have some free time. That's when I normally go on line and play my favorite game - Puzzle Pirates. About midnight (or by 2 or 3am) I'm in bed, reading something light for about 15 minutes until I'm tired enough to go to sleep. Then I get up the next morning and start over again.

AF - Do you think about your readers when you write a book?

VK - A little bit. But mostly I think about the story I'm telling. Is it fun? Are the words exciting and a little quirky so readers will enjoy them? Is the story compelling? Will kids enjoy it? Does it have an exciting beginning? Lots of problems in the middle? A satisfactory ending? Is is a GOOD story if I take away the rhyme? If not, I rethink it and rewrite it until it "sings" to me.

AF - What sort of things do you do when you're not writing?

VK - I love to work jigsaw puzzles, read (sci fi, mysteries, and regency romances are my favorite things to read) and I love working logic problems. I enjoy computer games -- not the shoot-em-up kind, but the mind puzzle type of games. That's why I love Puzzle Pirates so much. It's all puzzling games!

AF - What are some of your favorite things?

VK - Soft squishy pillows, warm gloves and hats and coats and shoes in winter, shorts and sleeveless tops in summer, swimming, fishing, fishing, fishing!

AF - Many writers speak about writer's block. Do you ever have that, and if so what are some things you do to get over it?

VK - I rarely run out of ideas. After my last book was finished, I thought I had writer's block for a while. Then I realized it was just that my editor had asked me not to write the book I needed to write. She said they didn't want a book on that subject. When I finally realized it was the next book inside me, I started writing it anyway. If she doesn't want it, I'm sure someone else will, and I have to write the books that inside me waiting to come out!

AF - If you could say one thing to a new writer what would it be?

VK - Learn as much as you can about the business, get into a critique group to get invaluable feedback, and if you truly believe in your stories, NEVER GIVE UP.

AF -If you could say one thing to the children reading your books what would that be?

VK - Enjoy!

AF -When it comes to writing what's next for you?

VK - Hopefully the sale of a pirate book I recently finished writing. I love that story and HOPE it will soon find an editor who also loves it.

AF - Are you available for signings, school visits and writing workshops?

VK - I love doing talks and am always open to discussing it to see if something can be worked out. My email is verlakay@aol.com if anyone wants to contact me about a talk.

Author Interview Sherry Garland

Sherry Garland is the award-winning author of over twenty-five books for children, young adults, and adults. Many of her books, such as THE LOTUS SEED, SONG OF THE BUFFALO BOY and SHADOW OF THE DRAGON, focus on Vietnam and evolved from her friendship with Vietnamese families in Houston. A fifth generation Texan, Ms. Garland also sets many of her books in the Lone Star State, including the popular Dear America series book, A LINE IN THE SAND, and the award-winning picture book VOICES OF THE ALAMO. Honors include: ALA Notable, BBYA, Best Book in Field of Social Studies, Reading Rainbow Book, WWA Spur Award, California Young Reader’s Medal, Texas Institute of Letters Award, Texas Bluebonnet List, Texas Lone Star List, Parents Choice, NCTE Orbis Pictus and many more.
Ms. Garland graduated with honors from the University of Texas-Arlington, with a BA in French and graduate studies in English/Linguistics. Before becoming a full time writer, she worked for many years in libraries. Ms. Garland conducts workshops at conferences for writers, librarians, students and teachers. Her speaking engagements have taken her to schools across the USA and to International schools in Taiwan, China, and Malaysia. She also traveled to Vietnam to do research.
Welcome, Sherry. Thank you for joining me here for an interview .

AF -What inspired you to be a writer?

SG -I like to give credit to my high school English teacher. She encouraged me to read great works of literature and to write. She made our senior honors class enter a state-wide essay contest. I won first place, was in the newspaper, on TV, honored at a banquet and received $100 (that was big bucks back in 1966). All that fame and glory made me realize I might have some talent for writing. I also took journalism and wrote some items for the high school newspaper.

AF -Can you tell us a little about your road to publication?

SG - I wrote poetry and short stories all during college, but never had the nerve to submit to publishers, so I hid everything under my mattress. I was over 30 before I considered writing as a career. I joined a writer's group, read tons of how-to-write books and attended conferences. At one conference I met an editor and submitted a proposal to her for a romance novel. She bought the ms and the next one, too. I didn't like writing romances, but when I tried something else, the editor was discouraging, so I quit writing altogether and figured my career was over. About five years later, I saw an ad in a writer's magazine placed by an educational publisher wanting someone to write a children's NF book about Vietnam. I had never written non-fiction or for children, but I knew a lot about Vietnam because of my friendships with the Vietnamese community in Houston and my research on Vietnam for an adult novel. That NF book launched my career as a children's/YA writer. I now have a total of 26 published books.

AF - What prompted you to write your books? Are they based on true life or are they completely fiction?

SG - Most of my books have a real event as their basis, whether historical or recent news items. For Shadow of the Dragon the news story was the beating death of a Vietnamese teenager by a gang of skinheads. For Letters from the Mountain, the idea came from a TV documentary about teens who "huffed" dangerous inhalants. I love history, and get lots of ideas while reading about different historical time periods. I do not base my characters specifically on people I know, but of course, my own background and upbringing work their way into the story and characterizations.

AF - Can you tell us a little about your latest book release?

SG - My latest book is a historical picture book called, THE BUFFALO SOLDIER. The narrator is an elderly African-American man, a former slave, recounting his life as a soldier in the US Army in the 1800s. The story starts when he is a 15 year old slave and ends when he is over 90. The award-winning illustrator, Ronald Himler, did a marvelous job. This book was just named a Notable book by the National Council of Social Studies and Children's Book Council.

AF - Would you take us through your typical writing day?

SG - I have no "typical" writing day. I really admire folks who can discipline their lives enough to have a schedule, but I am not that kind of person. I have a lot of false starts - writing a bunch of stuff then discarding it. I am a horrible procrastinator who gets very little accomplished until the last minute. I putter around the house, watch the wildlife, eat, sleep, watch TV, read the mail & e-mails. Then I get panicky about not working and write in a manic-like burst to catch up. I am at the computer every day (except those days I am traveling to do research or to speak at schools/conferences), but that does not mean that I am actually writing. However, when I have sold a novel on proposal and have a deadline looming, I adhere to a very strict schedule. I type up the schedule before starting the book and force myself to get it completed on time. During those times, I give myself permission to ignore all other life duties. The office becomes a pigsty.

AF - Do you think about your readers when you write a book?

SG - Actually, I think about the characters, the plot, the setting, and what makes a good novel. I am basically writing a book that I would like to read. I use my own feelings when I was a child or teen to get the right emotions. However, since I write for different age levels, I do make sure that language and theme are appropriate for the various ages. My fast paced chapter books for horse lovers would never have profanity or sexual content, whereas a YA novel might be more edgy.

AF - What sort of things do you do when you're not writing?

SG - Besides eating, sleeping and watching TV? I observe local wildlife a lot (I live on two heavily wooded acres). I also visit libraries for research and spend a lot of time on the Internet doing research. My favorite pastimes are gardening, walking three miles a day, camping and visiting places of great natural beauty. I love to cook. I also like to travel, which fits in nicely with research.

AF - Many writers speak about writer's block. Do you ever have that, and if so what are some things you do to get over it?

SG - I get writer's block all the time. In fact, I have had it last as long as five years at a stretch, where virtually no writing was done. To me there are two main causes of writer's block: 1) depression and lack of confidence and 2)having too many distractions and too little will power. For example, I start the day intending to write but then I tell myself that I should wash the clothes or feed the birds or plant petunias or go to the library before I start writing, and before you know it the day is gone and it's too late to write. Or during times of self-doubt, I convince myself that no one wants what I am writing anyway, so why bother. I have noticed that I never get writer's block when I have sold a project on proposal and have a deadline. I work best under pressure.

AF -If you could say one thing to a new writer what would it be?

SG - Be patient; stick with it. Let yourself enjoy the writing process and don't focus on rejection.

AF - If you could say one thing to the children reading your books what would that be?

SG - I hope you escape to another world while you are reading, one that is different from your own, whether it be another time period or another culture, one that makes you see life in a new light, if only for a little while.

AF - When it comes to writing what's next for you?

SG - I have several picture books making the rounds, two MG proposals (sequels to my police horse chapter book), a MG mystery, and three YA novels, two set during the 1960s. I have also been thinking seriously about writing for adults again, especially in the mystery or suspense genres.

AF - Are you available for signings, school visits and writing workshops?

SG - Yes, that is a very large part of my life. I do several different presentations, depending on the age of the audience and what the school wants. My website has more details: http://www.sherrygarland.com/