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.