Karleen Bradford is the award winning author of 22 books for children and young adults. She was born in Toronto, Canada, but moved with her parents to Argentina, South America when shewas nine. She came back to Canada for University and met her husband, Jim. After graduation, he took a position as a Foreign Service Officer with the Canadian Government. As a result, they spent the next 34 years travelling and living in different parts of the world including Colombia, the United States, England, the Philippines, Brazil, Germany and Puerto Rico. Their family is a real United Nations: her oldest son was born in Canada, her daughter in Colombia and her youngest son in England. They also acquired an American dog and a Brazilian cat along the way, as well as an assortment of other pets. Moving time was always exciting.
Her husband has retired now and they have settled back in Canada. She is putting down roots for the first time in her life and thoroughly enjoying it. Never able to live without a pet, so Casey, a large and lovable German Shepherd has joined the family.
Karleen has taught creative writing and writing for children for many years and done workshops and readings in schools and libraries across Canada and in the United States. She also had the opportunity of working with children in American schools in Germany while she lived there and, more recently, at the American School in Taipei, Taiwan. The Internet has introduced her to new opportunities. She has worked as a writer in residence for the WIER (Writers in Electronic Residence) program and taken part in The Read In, a day-long international meeting on the Net of writers and students from all over the world.
You can find out more about Karleen Bradford and her work at
Welcome, Karleen. Thank you for joining me here for an interview. First off, what inspired you to be a writer?
AF- Can you tell us about your latest book release?
KB - My latest book is called The Scarlet Cross. It's published by HarperCollins Canada Ltd. It is the fourth book in a series about the Crusades. This particular book deals with the Children's Crusade-a particularly dreadful episode in our history.
AF - What prompted you to write your books? Are they based on true life or are they completely fiction?
KB - Some of my books are historical novels, based on true life, with real and fictional characters. For these I do extensive research and am careful to make them as accurate as I can. Other books are fantasy and contemporary novels which come entirely out of my imagination.
AF - Would you take us through your typical writing day?
KB - I get up in the morning, take the dog for a walk, eat breakfast, then sit down to work in the room in my house that I have set aside for an office. I usually work on new stuff or revisions in the mornings. After lunch I will do office work, etc. Can't resist checking email whenever that little bell rings.
AF - Do you think about your readers when you write a book?
KB - Not really. The people who are most alive to me while I'm writing a book are the characters in it.
AF - What sort of things do you do when you're not writing?
KB - I read, of course. Don't know a writer who isn't a reader. I also hike, swim, and my biggest spare-time hobby is quilting.
AF - What are some of your favorite things?
KB - Books, dogs, cats, old glass and old china, spring, odd jewelry, and chocolate. Always, chocolate.
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?
KB - Often. I will sometimes sleep on it or go for long walks to mull over the problem. What works best, however, is just revising the last day's work or the last chapter. That gets my brain working and by the time I reach the stuck point I'm usually back into it again.
AF - If you could say one thing to a new writer what would it be?
KB - Write regularly and write as much as you can. Write the kind of book or story you would like to read. Above all, find joy in the writing.
AF - I f you could say one thing to the children reading your books what would that be?
KB - I hope I've written a good story that you will love. I've tried my best.
AF - When it comes to writing what's next for you?
KB - I'm revising a third fantasy book and when I finish that it's on to another historical novel.
AF - Are you available for signings, school visits and writing workshops?
KB - I am cutting back on signings, school visits and writing workshops, but haven't cut them out completely.
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