Writing Tips & the 83rd Kid Lit Blog Hop

Carpinello's Writing Pages is back with writing tips from authors we've interviewed in January and February 2016. Please feel feel to leave your own advice in the comments.

I guess I would try to demystify novel-writing as 10% inspiration and 90% perspiration. There are many good ideas for books, but authors are people who develop ideas into books. Sure, I’ve heard the stories of authors sitting down, starting to type, and hammering out their novels from beginning to end (with a slap-dash pull of the last page from what in my mind is the cartridge of a typewriter). But that’s uncommon, in my opinion. I use many practical tools to maintain control over my writing—outlining, charting, diagramming, deep questioning—and I revise, revise, and revise, then revise some more—Marie C. Collins, author of A Brief Stay at Earth Human Camp

Keep writing. Keep networking. Make yourself a real person. Enable people to get to know you. One thing I have learned about being an author is it is so much more than just writing. You must interact on social media. This is more than saying, “buy my book.” It is a matter of letting people know what your interests are and sharing about them. I don’t sell a book by saying, “buy my book”. I sell books when I introduce myself, talk about my kids, and why I write. Eventually, someone says, “what is your book about?” That is when I sell a book—Kandi Wyatt, author of Dragon's Future

The main advice I have is don’t give up. From what I’ve read, it seems like every author has a different process, but all seem to agree that you need to keep writing, every day if possible. I’ve found it incredibly helpful to set small writing goals and to track my first draft word count. When I first started my goal was to write only 300 words a day. This was so small that it seemed ridiculously easy. Most days I wrote over 700 words. That doesn’t sound like much, but it added up very quickl—David Brough, author of Del Ryder and the Crystal Seed

Being an indie author is so much more than just writing the manuscript. You need a great editor, formatter, and cover design person. Also, you need to know how to market a book in a constantly evolving media world. Surrounding yourself with people who have these tools is key—Tricia Copeland, author of Is this Me?   

And now,

Welcome back to another month of terrific children's literature on the April 2017 Kid Lit Blog Hop.

 

On this Hop, Carpinello's Writing Pages interviews

MG/YA Fantasy author

B. Roman

 

This hop takes place every 3rd Wednesday of the month. It is designed to engage a  group of people who love everything that has to do with children's literature. Everyone is welcome to join us: bloggers, authors, publicist, and publishers!

Have you seen the  Kid Lit Blog Hopper Facebook fan page? This page has all the news and information related to the hop plus ongoing posts, giveaways, news articles, etc. related to Kid's Lit. Check it out and of course, please like the page.

So for our hop, please make sure that your posts are related to Children’s literature only and add it to the linky. (Please make sure to add your direct post only) If you are an author, feel free just to link to your blog. Once you are done, then hop around to visit others. Please follow the co-host and visit at least the one or two people above your link. Please leave a comment when you do visit, we all like those.

Also, it would be appreciated if you grab the Kid Lit Blog Hop Badge and display it on your blog and/or your post. Note: Make sure you have the newest badge as the old one goes to the wrong page.
 
We would also be grateful if you tweet and/or posted on Facebook about the blog hop. Let’s grow this wonderful community.

Thanks for sharing your great children's books with all of us! The hostess will be around to see you.


Happy Hopping!

Reading Authors, Host

The Bookshelf Gargoyle

BeachBoundBooks

Cheryl Carpinello

Pragmatic Mom

The Logonauts

Spark and Pook

 

Add Your Link HERE

Meet Middle Grade Author Bobbi Chukran

Carpinello's Writing Pages welcomes another Texas author, Bobbi Chukran. Bobbi writes middle grade fiction and brings her book Princess Primrose and the Curse of the Big Sleep.

First, a bit about Bobbi:

I was born in Ft. Worth, Texas, grew up in Grapevine (home of the DFW Airport), earned an art degree from U.T. Austin, lived there for years, and two years ago bought a 1930s cottage in Taylor, a small town northeast of Austin. I’ve been writing since I was very young---poetry, plays, short stories and lots of non-fiction. My main love, though, is writing fiction---especially anything funny or mysterious---or both.

Why did you pick to write books for Middle Grade Readers?

I’m not sure I made an active choice to write middle grade, but the kinds of quirky characters and humor that always seem to come out of my mind are well suited to that age group. I love that middle grade fiction doesn’t seem to have any boundaries in terms of strangeness, humor, crazy characters or situations, etc.

What types of books do you like to read?

I love reading mysterious stories, stories of quirky characters in small towns or strange places. I love reading comedy, books with snappy dialogue and clever uses of words and word play, and I use a lot of that in my writing. I read a lot of middle grade fiction. I tend to like kid books like the Lemony Snicket series, Van Draanen’s Sammy Keye’s series and Ardagh’s Eddie Dickens Trilogy.  I’m also a big fan of Betty Ren Wright’s books.

When you are not writing, what do you like to do?

I am an avid gardener, and tend ¼ acre of heirloom roses, herbs and vegetables and have designed a “critter garden” over the last two years since we moved here. We’re surrounded by birds, bees, butterflies, squirrels and the occasional neighborhood cat that enjoys my catnip. I also have six rescue cats of my own, and tending to them is sometimes a full-time job.

Tell us about Princess Primrose and the Curse of The Big Sleep, and how the story came to be.

Princess Primrose and the Curse of The Big Sleep was originally a stage play I wrote that won an award from a children’s theatre in Arizona. I decided to expand the story a bit and publish it as a book. One of my “things” is to spoof classic stories, and I thought it would be fun to mix a handful of different stories together—this time fairy tales and a detective story.  It seemed a natural since I primarily consider myself a mystery writer. Before long I’d visualized Rapunzel Rapunzel and Snow White as Inquiry Agents (detectives) who work with seven elves named Marlowe, Stealthy, Creeper, Nosy, Snoops, Sherlock and Gumshoe to solve crimes in their kingdom.

Here's a peek at Princess Primrose and the Curse of The Big Sleep.

It takes a motley assortment of characters to solve the case of the Curse of The Big Sleep. There’s trouble brewing when Snitch, the Tattle-Tale Fairy, sets a crazy caper in motion when he tells a wicked witch that she has a beautiful niece, Princess Primrose. She puts a sleeping spell on the princess and the two detectives are hired to find an enchanted frog who hopefully can break the Curse of The Big Sleep. Who will save sleeping pretty Princess Primrose from Moribunda McEvil? R. Rapunzel and S. White, Inquiry Agents? Their seven helper elves, or Miss Slumberkins, a young witch who can only reverse spells---sort of? Or will it be Weasel the Wizard, with one of his special potions? Or perhaps there really is a prince in the motley assortment of enchanted creatures. Princess Primrose and the Curse of The Big Sleep is filled with quirky characters, snappy dialogue (and a happy, yet twisted ending). Anyone who believes in magic will love this fast-paced fairy tale spoof.

Have you written other books? If so, tell us a bit about them.

Yes, I’ve written lots of non-fiction, short stories and one historical mystery for adults, Lone Star Death. I’ve also written plays for youth theatre, and a DRACULA comedy spoof play, The Journal of Mina Harker. I’m an eclectic author, but most of my fictional stories do have the “all things mysterious” in common with each other. I also have a little e-booklet on cooking with herbs and spices.

What’s next for your writing? Are you working on a new story?

Yes, I’m always working on something new. I’m making notes for a second book in the R. Rapunzel and S. White series and working on a series of short mystery stories.

What advice do you have for other authors?

Being an author, or writing a book, is never like you think it will be. It’s really, really hard work to keep producing, day after day, month after month, year after year. Yes, writing is fun, but it’s mostly hard work. You really have to be committed (in more ways than one! LOL) in order to make a career out of it. And these days, you have to be willing to do a lot of your own promotion and have the courage to get your work out there even when others reject it. Promotion of books really is a full-time job, and you have to carve out time to do the writing. Don’t be pressured into writing just one thing if you want to explore different types of writing. There are readers for anything you want to write. The hard part is finding them.

Where to find Bobbi and her books:

Bobbi:

http://bobbichukran.com
http://bobbichukran.blogspot.com
http://earthly-gardener.blogspot.com

Her Books:

Princess Primrose

Amazon US

My published books are available on Amazon.com right now in e-book format for the Kindle (and in other formats in the future).  Princess Primrose and Lone Star Death are also available in paperback through Amazon.com. 

Meet MG/YA Author Kai Strand

Carpinello's Writing Pages welcomes Middle Grade and YA author Kai Strand. Kai is a fellow MuseItUp author.

First, a bit about Kai:

Kai Strand writes fiction for kids and teens. She is a (very lucky) wife and the mother of four amazing kids. The most common sound in her household is laughter. The second most common is, "Do your dishes!" She and her family hike, geocache, and canoe in beautiful Central Oregon, where they call home.

Why did you pick to write books for MG/YA?

I write both young adult and middle grade. I jump between the two because the middle grade years are so formative. Kids are really figuring out who they are, who they want to be and learning some of the uglier truths of life. Reading is really important in those years to help them figure it all out. With young adult there are no limits. All subjects are open, all means of telling the story are available. The readers are smart and dialed in to the story and passionate about what they love. That passion is what I truly love about young adult readers – regardless of their age.

What types of books do you like to read?

Again I fluctuate between middle grade and young adult, and I try to read all the genres within that: fantasy, contemporary, mystery, horror, humor. I also try to alternate between books published by traditional big publishers, self-published books, and books from small publishers. There are so many good writers and now that there are choices out there for authors, you can find gems everywhere.

When you are not writing, what do you like to do?

I’m a mother, so I like to do the things that mothers do: taxi service, grocery shopping, cooking, laughing at – oh, I mean helping with homework. I’m a wife, so I spend a lot of time adoring my husband.  Great guise to sit and relax. I’m a compulsive walker, so I try to walk 3 miles, 5 or so days per week. I love to be outside, gardening, reading, wandering downtown.

Tell us about Beware of the White and how the story came to be.

My latest middle grade novel is Beware of the White: A Concord Chronicles Book. I recommend it for fans of Narnia because it has an alternate reality, magical abilities, fantastical creatures, prophecy, and adventure. I wrote this book while waiting for the fifth Harry Potter book to be released. I was so enamored with the world of Hogwarts and I thought, “I can create a world of my own while I wait.”

Here's a peek at Beware of the White:

As is tradition, Terra learns on the Saturday past her twelfth birthday that she is a Nature’s Spirit. It is her legacy to serve in the peaceful underground city of Concord. Learning she is named in a prophecy and being threatened by the leader of the death tribe…that part breaks tradition.

The Trepidus are the death janitors of the Underworld, responsible for delivering fatalities with a smile and cleaning up after themselves. Until Blanco, leader of the Trepidus, decides the day of reckoning for his species is coming, at Terra’s hand. He begins organizing the creatures and leads them toward an uprising. The prophecy says there is one person who can stop him. Terra.

With Spirit of Security, Frank, protecting her, Terra attempts to complete her training and discover her Spirit talents. Together, they go on a rogue investigation to learn out how to defeat Blanco. In the end, it comes down to a battle of the minds. The future of Concord is at stake. Will Blanco, the older, more experienced being win? Or will Terra, the young, new Spirit earn back the peace of the city?

Have you written other books? If so, tell us a bit about them.

I have a middle grade series called The Weaver Tales. There are currently two books in the series. Both books are set in the fictional village of The Tales filled with storytellers called Word Weavers. The people speak in story, so the books are lyrical and offer several examples of different types of storytelling. The Weaver, the first book in the series, was a finalist in the 2012 EPIC eBook Awards. In The Weaver, Molly Wordsmith lives in a town of storytellers, but can’t tell a good story to save her life. The Wishing Well: Another Weaver Tale is similar to Cinderella because the main character Molly has a horrible mother and two terrible sisters. In both books our girls meet a strange gnome/elf, named Unwanted who grants them each one wish, but it doesn’t solve their problems; it might have made them worse. The books don’t have to be read in a specific order.

Save the Lemmings is a contemporary fiction for the older middle grader or tween reader. Natalie is a young inventor and her latest invention makes her an overnight sensation. At first the media adores her, but then they turn on her and start to print lies. Natalie has to figure out how to take back control of her life.

Finally, I recently broke into the world of young adult with my most recent release King of Bad. Everybody loves a bad boy, and Jeff Mean is King of Bad. A self professed pyromaniac, Jeff wears his bad boy image like a favorite old hoodie, until he is recruited by Super Villain Academy  - where you learn to be good at being bad. When the fellow students in your school can suck all the water out of your body or perform psychic sex in your head, bad takes on a whole new meaning. Is Jeff Mean bad enough for SVA? I’m thrilled to say that King of Bad is a #1 bestseller for Whiskey Creek Press!

What’s next for your writing? Are you working on a new story?

The second book in the Super Villain Academy series is under contract with Whiskey Creek. I’m finishing a contemporary young adult that I like to say is a cross between National Treasure and Wuthering Heights. And finally, I’m writing a Concord Chronicles novella. This will be Frank’s story, which will make more sense after you’ve read Beware of the White. All I can say is, sigh, “Ah, Frank.”

What advice do you have for other authors?

Read a lot from the genre and age range you want to write for. Never stop reading books, magazine articles, graphic novels written for that target audience. Read the good and read the bad, and learn from it all.

Anything else you want readers to know?

Feed an author, buzz their book. With everyone online these days, it is so easy for readers to share their favorite books. They don’t have to be eloquent writers and leave lengthy professional grade reviews, just share their opinion in a one line review on Amazon or the publishers website or even share the link with their facebook friends and say, “What a fun book!” Your friends value your opinion and sharing it is GOLDEN for that author.

Where can readers find you and your books?

I’m online all the time (blushes). So whenever someone wants to talk books, they can find me on Facebook, Twitter, or send me an email. All of my contact information and the blurbs, buy links and companion materials for my books can be found on my website: www.kaistrand.com.

Meet Middle Grade Author Ann Swann

Carpinello's Writing Pages welcomes Texas author Ann Swann and her Middle Grade novels centering around Stevie-girl.

First, a bit about Ann:

Ann lives in Texas with her husband and rescue pets. Her children and grandchildren live nearby so they can keep her out of trouble. Ann works part time as a researcher for an online journal. She taught fifth and sixth graders for a number of years before leaving to devote more time to her first love—fiction. Reading with children was always her favorite part of teaching.

Her Middle Grade books, Stevie-girl and the Phantom Pilot and Stevie-girl and the Phantom Student, were published in 2012. The third book in the series, Stevie-girl and the Phantom of Crybaby Bridge, was published in 2013.

Why did you pick to write books for MG?

I think I’m just a kid in a lumpy, grownup body.

What types of books do you like to read?

I love stories with characters that make you care what happens to them. Some of my favorite books were animal stories such as the Silver Chief stories, Charlotte’s Web, and The Bridge to Terabithia, and all the books by James Herriot. I also read adult speculative fiction. Stephen King has always been a favorite author, along with JRR Tolkien, Edgar Allan Poe, and Mary Stewart. I could go on and on.

When you are not writing, what do you like to do?

I love to listen to music while I’m walking the trails around our university. I also love spending time with my family, going to movies, and playing games.

Tell us about Stevie-girl and the Phantom Pilot and how the story came to be.

I was sitting at my computer one night—all alone in the house—when a small plane flew very low over my house. It was very loud, and then it went silent. I ran outside to see if it had crashed, but I saw nothing! That did make me wonder what it would’ve been like if it had crashed . . . and so the story was born. After it was published and got great reviews, I discovered Stevie-girl wasn’t done with me. So Book Two, Stevie-girl and the Phantom Student, practically wrote itself. Then Book Three, Stevie-girl and the Phantom of Crybaby Bridge, came about just as easily. I think it may be my favorite one of the three!

Here's a peek at Stevie-girl and the Phantom Pilot:

It was the late 60s: the Beatles had washed across America like a British tsunami, Vietnam was a grainy, green and black dose of unreality on the evening news, a bunch of hippies had taken over San Francisco, and there was a heck of a rainstorm pouring down on Woodstock. But I didn’t know all that then.
            I was a little bit lost, looking for something. I swear I didn’t go looking for a ghost . . . well, okay, maybe I did. But I didn’t expect to find one. Heck, I was just a kid. I didn’t expect much of anything.
 



Have you written other books? If so, tell us a bit about them.

I also write adult novels for 5 Prince Publishing. They are contemporary romance and romantic suspense.

What’s next for your writing? Are you working on a new story?

I just finished a YA horror novel—TAKERS. It will be released in a few months—it has to be edited first.

What advice do you have for other authors? 

Just write. Don’t worry if it isn’t perfect—that’s what revision is all about. But first, you just have to finish the story.

Anything else you want readers to know? 

I have a Middle Grade sci-fi story on Amazon called CHEMS. It is about a blue, chemically altered soldier who is on the trail of a killer. It’s a little bit gory if you like that sort of thing . . .

Where can readers find you and your books? 

www.annswann.blogspot.com  or www.annswann.net

Amazon

Kobo

Sony Reader
 

The Quest Series Completes Book Three with Giveaway

Okay: Time for me to bite the bullet! There are five books in The Quest Series! So sorry for the misleading statement below!

One of my writing friends is launching the third book in his Egyptian The Quest Series. I hope you will join in the celebration of the event by visiting his website, entering the giveaway of his third book The Fallen Pharaoh, and/or entering via Rafflecopter to win one of two sets of the series so far in eBook. The links are listed below.

Good luck all who enter, and Congratulations to S. W. Lothian on finishing his own exciting third adventure!

Here's a peek at his promo photo:

Here is the finished cover for The Fallen Pharaoh:

Visit S.W. Lothian's website: https://swlothian.wordpress.com/2013/06/01/♦-the-fallen-pharaoh-♦-quest-3-♦-launch-giveaway-♦/

Enter the Goodreads Giveaway: http://www.goodreads.com/giveaway/show/53053-the-fallen-pharaoh

Enter the Rafflecopter Giveaway: http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/97e26d2/

Kid Lit Blog Hop #15

Welcome to the 15th Kid Lit Blog Hop. The Kid Lit Blog Hop takes place on the 1st and 3rd Wednesdays of each month. We have managed to create a dynamic and engaged community of children's books bloggers, authors, publishers, and publicists, as well as parents seeking out their next great read. So, you are more than welcome to link in and take some time to make some new friends. I want to take this opportunity to welcome a new permanent hostess on the Hop: Cheryl Carpinello. Cheryl is the author of Guinevere: On the Eve of Legend and The King's Ransom (The Young Knights of the Round Table) and she also blogs over at Carpinello's Writing Pages. Big, big welcome to you Cheryl! :-) Before we get on with the Hop I do want to remind you that the sign-ups for the Kid Lit Giveaway Hop, co-hosted by Mother Daughter Book Reviews and Youth Literature Reviews is NOW OPEN but they will close May 10th. The Kid Lit Giveaway Hop is taking place to honor Children's Book Week (May 13 to 19, 2013). Children's book or teen literature bloggers, authors, publishers, or publicists looking to share copies of a fabulous book are welcome to link in a giveaway for fabulous children/teen's books, gift cards, cash, or other prizes. What better way to celebrate Children's Book Week? Click on the poster below for more information.  

Happy Hopping everyone and enjoy the Hop!

<div align="center"><a href="http://motherdaughterbookreviews.com/category/kid-lit-blog-hops/" title="Kid Lit Blog Hop"><img src="http://motherdaughterbookreviews.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/Kid-Lit-Blog-Hop-Button-Sep-2012-e1349976901756.jpg" alt="Kid Lit Blog Hop" style="border:none;" /></a></div>

 

Suggestions For How to Participate:

1. Although not mandatory, we ask that you kindly follow your hostesses and co-hostesses. You can follow us any way you choose (Email, GFC, Twitter, Facebook, G+, Pinterest, etc.), but we've added our preferences below. If you could just give us a quick "follow" or "like" that would be much appreciated! Make sure to leave us a message if you are following us (i.e., on Twitter or Facebook or on our websites) and we will be sure to follow you back. Thanks! :-)

Hostesses:

Renee @ Mother Daughter Book Reviews Twitter * Facebook

Jaymie @ Snacks for Max Twitter * Facebook

Heidi @ Geo Librarian Twitter * Facebook

Sue @ Kid Lit Reviews Twitter * Facebook

Katie @ Youth Literature Reviews Twitter * Facebook

Julie Grasso, Author of Escape From the Forbidden Planet/Blogger Twitter * Facebook

Cheryl Carpinello, Author of Guinevere & The King's Ransom / Blogger Twitter * Facebook

Co-Hostesses:

Ang @ Juggling Act Mama Twitter * Facebook

2. Link up any Kid Lit related post. This can be a link to a children’s book review, a discussion about children’s literature/literacy, or a post on a recently-read children’s book or one that you love from your childhood.

* Don't link directly to your blog, it must be a specific post*

* For Authors, we prefer you to link to your blog if you have one *

* Make sure you include an image relevant to the POST (e.g., book cover), not your blog button or photo of yourself.*

* Feel free to link more than one post.*

3. Check out some other books. Don't be a stranger, go see what books other families are checking out, and leave them some love in the form of a comment. We are trying to build a community of bloggers, readers, parents, authors, and others who are as passionate about children’s literature as we are so please CONNECT and follow any or all of the blogs that interest you! 4. If you like, grab the button above and put it somewhere on your blog, preferably the post you're linking up. If you'd prefer, you can just add a text link back to this Hop so that others can find it and check out all these great book links! 5. It would really help us get the word out about the Kid Lit Blog Hop if you would be so kind as to tweet, share, and spread the word about the Hop!

Interested in co-hosting the Kid Lit Blog Hop? Please email renee @ motherdaughterbookreviews (dot) com and put Co-Hosting Blog Hop in the subject line.

Happy Hopping!

Meet Middle Grade Author Beth Overmyer

Today we welcome Middle Grade author Beth Overmyer to Carpinello's Writing Pages. Beth, an Ohio native, writes for middle graders and young adults. Her debut novel In A Pickle was published by MuseItUp Publishing, and she has had shorter fiction published in various e-zines

Why did you choose to write books for Middle Grade readers?

I really enjoyed Rick Riordan’s Percy Jackson and the Olympians series, and I related well to the voice and the characters. I have a younger sense of humor and fun. A sense of what a youthful audience would like is important. It’s also important to like it yourself

What types of books do you like to read?

I like anything from Tolkien’s The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings trilogy to Okay for Now by Gary D. Schmidt, and a lot in between. Books that help you escape, help you find yourself, or simply entertain…all have merit and help you grow on some level, even if they show you what not to do.

When you are not writing, what do you like to do?

The cliché answer: I like reading, and chilling with my family and my cats. I also enjoy good music and dancing when no one is watching.

Tell us about In A Pickle and how the story came to be.

In A Pickle came about in a random sort of way. I’ve always liked time-travel, so I thought “Wouldn’t it be interesting to have a cat that time-travels?” Well, the cat didn’t make it to print, but his owner, Charlie, did. And once I had the character in my head, his adventure took off from there, and the story almost told itself.

Here's a peak at In A Pickle: 

Charlie Pickle can't stay put in the year 1920 due to an annoying habit of time-traveling. On a trip back to 1910, he meets a man with a secret. Murder makes the headlines that day, and Charlie's new friend knows who the guilty party is. Now, not only does Charlie have bullies and murderers to contend with, he's got some history to fix.


Have you written other books? If so, tell us a bit about them. 

In A Pickle is my debut. I’ve had various short stories published in e-zines and anthologies, though, which ranged from comedic horror to speculative humor (A Fairytale Intervention, for example.)

What’s next for your writing? Are you working on a new story? 

I’m working on a middle grade novel about junior high students who develop superpowers. There is something different and special about them, but that’s a surprise I don’t want to give away. I also have some young adult projects and one or two screenplays and stage plays on the backburner.

What advice do you have for other authors? 

Keep writing. Read. Read A LOT, in and out of your genre/age group. And be sure to edit your work, even if you think it’s all that and a bag of chips.

Where can readers find you and your books? 

They can purchase In A Pickle in e-book form through my publisher’s website http://museituppublishing.com as well as Amazon.com. It should also be available from Barnes and Noble’s website sometime in the near future.

Meet Author Chloe Jon Paul

Today we welcome author Chloe Jon Paul. Her list of accomplishments follow her Philosophy of Life: Find a Need and Fill It.

• Four published books since 2003: 3 non-fiction, 1 fiction

• Title of Ms. Maryland Senior America 2003

• Recipient of the Fulbright Fellowship Seminars Abroad award to South Africa, 1996

• Volunteer internship during the 2005 Maryland legislative session as a Legacy Leadership Institute graduate

• Lead facilitator for the Alternatives to Violence Project in prison and community workshops on conflict resolution for ten years

• Former State representative for the National Family Caregivers Association’s caregiver community action network 2006-2008

• Former Advisory board member:  MD, Healthcare Commission and the Interagency Commission for Aging Services:  Maryland Dept. of Aging

• Hospice volunteer: AIDS patients & veterans

• Volunteer for Warm Nights homeless shelter

• Coordinator for the Good Samaritan Project at her church

• World traveler – all 7 continents.

Why did you pick to write books for Children/Middle Grade?

Writing for children never was my first choice.  I think that with all my writing, the impetus for me has been living my philosophy of life: find a need and fill it.

What types of books do you like to read?

I like to read spiritual and self-help books, but when it comes to fiction, I’ve enjoyed authors Paul Coelho, Carolyn Chute, Rebecca Wells, and so many others. Currently, I have been reading Melissa Foster’s novels as well.

When you are not writing, what do you like to do?

I am quite engaged in volunteer work with the Good Samaritan Project, hospice with our dying veterans, and helping at a homeless shelter.  I also like working out at Planet fitness, traveling, and learning something new.

Tell us about The Girl Who Did Not Like Her Name, and how the story came to be.

As a teacher I met students who didn’t like their names . After I wrote the first draft, I actually used it to help a little girl who was having trouble with her name.  I put the manuscript aside because I couldn’t find an illustrator that I liked and went on to other writing projects.  Last year, however, I found the illustrator whom I could work with.  So that is how The Girl Who Did Not Like Her Name came to be.

Sneak peak at The Girl Who Did Not Like Her Name:

Alessandra Theresa Petrucci doesn’t like her name one bit. When she was little, grown-ups would say, “My! My! Such a BIG name for such a little girl.”
 
Her mother insisted on calling her Alessandra. “Sandra or Sandy just isn’t right for you,” she would say. “No, Alessandra is just fine!” Her mother insisted that everyone else call her that too.

Last year when she had started first grade and learned to print her name, she couldn’t fit her full name across the paper. Her letters were too big and clumsy yet.
 
“You have a lovely name,” her teacher had said. “When your printing gets better, you’ll be able to write smaller. Maybe you could leave out your middle name for now.”
 
“My name is almost as long as the whole alphabet!” Alessandra Theresa wailed.  Her teacher gives her permission to use her initials and last name when using the computer.  It doesn’t completely solve her problem but she is somewhat relieved.  It even gives her an idea for another solution and young readers will howl with laughter at her friend Mary Jane’s reaction to the idea.

She knows that she was named after her great-great grandmother but her response to that is “I think that’s dumb! Why do I have to have the name of somebody who’s dead? She wasn’t even famous!”

Alessandra spends a lot of time trying to figure out how to change her name or at least shorten it but when she visits her grandmother during summer vacation, something unexpected and wonderful happens!

Young readers will be delighted and fascinated with what Alessandra Theresa discovers when she climbs up to the attic of her grandmother’s house.  Later, when her grandmother asks her to tell her about the problem she has been having, she matter-of-factly replies, “Oh, that –it’s not a problem anymore!”

What makes Alessandra Theresa Petrucci change her mind about her name? Read The Girl Who Did Not Like Her Name and learn what happens.
 
Have you written other books? If so, tell us a bit about them.

I have 3 adult books on the market as well. Two are non-fiction and one is fiction. The novel won the Bronze Award in the Readers Favorite competition for 2012 and has been written into a screenplay by screenwriter Don MacNab. Readers can find detailed information about my books on my web site: www.chloejonpaul.com.

What’s next for your writing? Are you working on a new story?

It will be my memoirs and mostly blog post articles.  I have another book ready for publication but it requires extensive artwork.  The title is The Untold Story of the Alphabet.  It is a blend of linguistics and phonics for someone who has trouble learning to read.

What advice do you have for other authors?

Follow my COPD plan of action:  consistency, optimism, perseverance, and determination.

Where can readers find you and your books?

My books are on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Books a Million and on my web site where buyers can take advantage of promo codes and save money.

Anything else you want readers to know?

I would love to hear from readers.  They can leave comments at my web site.  I would also appreciate reader reviews on Amazon.

Meet MG/YA Author Kay Lalone

Join me in welcoming MG/YA author Kay Lalone to Carpinello's Writing Pages. Kay's debut book Ghostly Clues was released in November 2012 by MuseItUp Publishing.


Kay, tell us a bit about yourself.

I have been writing for most of my life. Some of my short stories have been published in children’s magazines. Other short stories have grown into MG and YA novels. I have an interest in the unexplained things like ghosts, dreams, witches, demons, and just things that are weird so most of my stories reflect that interest. Ghostly Clues is my first book to be published. I live in Michigan with my husband and youngest son.

What types of books do you like to read?

Mystery mostly. I love the Harry Potter series and the Twilight series. I like books that have believable characters who are put into weird and strange situations that upset their normal life, routine. It is entertaining to see how they survive the situation and see how their lives change. 

Why did you pick to write books for Middle Grade/YA?

Children and teenagers have an open mind and wild imagination so it is fun to write MG and YA. Writing for that group of people is a challenge to dig deep into my own imagination and view the world like my readers would and to be creative and entertaining. I picked writing books for MG and YA because it gives me a chance to be a child again through my characters.

When you are not writing, what do you like to do?

My favorite thing to do is spend time with my family whether it’s play games or watching movies. I have two adult sons and one teenage son at home so family time is hard to come by with everyone being so busy. My husband and I love to go to auctions and buy antiques. I love camping with my sons and doing things that interest them like playing video games (even though my youngest beats me all the time.) When I want to relax, I love to read.

 Tell us about Ghostly Clues and how the story came to be.

Ghostly Clues started out as a short story. I was around thirteen, same age as the main character, Sarah Kay when my grandma died. That was when I had my first encounter with a ghost. It was a ghost hand that crawled up on my bed and grabbed a doll. The next morning the doll was found way under my bed. I believe it was my grandma telling me I was too old to sleep with dolls. This memory has haunted me all these years. And I started asking myself what if questions and soon Ghostly Clues developed into a novel.

Blurb:

The sweet scent of lilacs permeates the air around Grandma’s gravesite. Only Sarah Kay can smell Grandma’s favorite flower, and they’re not even in bloom.

Sarah Kay and her best friend, Mary Jane, believe the lilacs are a sign from Grandma’s ghost. The girls follow one ghostly clue after another, uncovering a secret that Mom never wanted Sarah Kay to know.

Grandma makes sure Sarah Kay gets the message even from the grave. As the evidence piles up, Mom still refuses to accept the possibility Sarah Kay’s father is alive.

Sarah Kay finds Dad’s parents. A set of grandparents she didn’t realize existed. They make it clear her father is alive but days and miles separate the father and daughter reunion because Dad is a truck driver on a long haul.

Sarah Kay waits. The news reports a fatal car accident involving a semi and Sarah Kay fears the worse. She runs away which leads to Dad and the truth, Mom wanted Dad to remain dead.

Dad had faked his death so why not just stay dead.  The ghostly clues of Grandma wouldn’t allow Dad to remain dead to Sarah Kay.


Have you written other books? If so, tell us a bit about them.

I have written other books but they aren’t published yet. One manuscript that I am finishing up and will send to MuseItUp is a YA novel entitled Family Secret. It’s about a fifteen year old boy named Tom whose mother died and his father leaves him with a family friend to go away on business and try to figure out who killed his wife. Tom feels abandon by both parents. Strange things start to happen to Tom and he discovers the family secrets his parents have kept from him will put him in danger.

What’s next for your writing? Are you working on a new story?

Yes. I am always working on new stories. I have a lot of stories running through my head. But another story that is almost complete is a YA novel Mysterious Visions. It is about Nicole who has visions, one of her parents' fatal car accident, and how she deals with her friends knowing her secret.  Also, strange things that happen in the caves on the island.

What advice do you have for other authors?

The best advice I was given is read, read, read, and write, write, write. Reading is important not just for entertainment, but to see how other authors write. As an author it is hard to find the time to write. So you need to discipline yourself to sit down and write. If you don’t have that discipline or drive to write, than learning to how to write a story is useless.

Anything else you want readers to know?

I would like to hear from my readers. I think the great thing about technology is that you can facebook or even email your favorite authors. I always wished I could do that when I was a kid, but way back then it was harder to contact an author. So I love hearing from my readers to find out what they are thinking and what they would like see in a story.

Where can readers find you and your books?
My website is Kay Lalone Author  and my blog is www.kaylalone.blogspot.com. 

Ghostly Clues can be found at MuseItUp Publishing.

Meet Middle Grade Christian Author Alice M. Roelke

Today I welcome MG/YA Christian Author Alice M. Roelke. I first met Alice about three years ago. We both took an online writing class, and once the class was finished, we decided to put together our own writing critique group. Alice was the first one to read Young Knights back at the begining. She writes in a variety of genres, including science fiction, fantasy, romance, children’s, and young adult. She is addicted to reading, cats, and farmer’s markets.

Alice, why did you pick to write books for young adults?

Actually, I just write the stories I want to read!  Sometimes they’re also a good fit for children or young adults, sometimes not.  I wrote most of the original draft of this story when I was a teenager, so I was literally just writing it for myself and my age group.  Writing it helped me figure out some things I was dealing with regarding life and my beliefs.  It was also a lot of fun to write my very own dragon story!

What types of books do you like to read?

Lots of different sorts.  My current favorite authors are Alexander McCall Smith, Ray Bradbury, Richard Adams, and Georgette Heyer.

When you are not writing, what do you like to do?

Read.  Watch TV.  Play with my cats.  Shop at farmer’s markets.  Surf the internet.  I want to take up quilting again, but I’ve been too busy and intimidated by it lately.

Tell us about The Girl and the Dragon and how the story came to be.

My story is about a slave girl and the dragon who is her best friend. They are on the run for their lives seeking the cure for a plague and redemption.

How it came to be:
When I was a teenager, I wanted to read about dragons and a heroine my age with whom I could identify.  At the time, nobody seemed to be writing quite what I wanted to read, or else I just couldn’t find it.  So I wrote my own. 

I also wanted to write about some of the things I was figuring out and trying to make sense of in life.  It took me several years to finish the story, including a long bout with depression when I couldn’t write any of at all.  Finishing this story became one of my life goals during those dark days, and I’m so glad I was eventually able to.  :)

Being published by MuseItUp Publishing is very special to me, as well.  My publisher, editors, and cover artist helped me improve this story and make it stronger without changing my vision.  Respect and integrity are watchwords they seem to live by.  :)




Have you written other books? If so, tell us a bit about them.

I’ve been writing ‘books’ since I was eight.  So yes, I’ve written a lot.  You can read more about the stories I’ve had published at My Live Journal: Roelke.

What’s next for your writing? Are you working on a new story?
I’m always working on a new story, sometimes several at once.  (They don’t always end up finished or published, though.)  Right now I’m working with Annie Duguid (an amazing and very patient MuseItUp content editor) on my YA romantic fantasy / coming of age novel Watch Over Me.

What advice do you have for other authors?

Don’t give up. 

Write from your heart. 

If you get jealous of other writers, don’t let it make you bitter.  Just tell yourself, “If they can do it, so can I.”  It’s really true!

Where can readers find you and your books?

Better ebook distributors everywhere!  Sorry.  I had to say it…. 

My blog at my Live Journal http://roelke.livejournal.com and my older blog The Writing Life For Me.

Anything else you want readers to know?
This story has some religious and Christian elements, for readers who care one way or the other about that.  I think lots of different people might enjoy this story, but the primary audience is going to be young women.  If a fifteen-year-old girl like I was finds my story, and it touches her, I’ll be over the moon.  :)

Meet Middle Grade Author Suzanne de Montigny

Join me in welcoming Suzanne de Montigny to Carpinello's Writing Pages. Her ebook The Shadow of the Unicorn: The Legacy debuts Friday Nov. 30.




Suzanne, why did you pick to write middle grade books?

I suppose it’s because I was an elementary music teacher for over twenty years, and loved to instill values in kids. So when I began writing five years ago, it was only natural that I create stories for intermediate-aged children.

What types of books do you like to read?

I like to read anything that takes me away. If it’s too similar to my life, I fall asleep pretty quickly. That’s why I like to read fantasy and historical fiction. It’s a whole other world.

When you are not writing, what do you like to do?

Almost all my time is taken up with my two boys, aged ten and twelve. When I’m not helping them with homework, we’re playing our fiddles. Oops. Wait a minute, that is homework for them. But not for me. Like reading a good novel, I get lost playing my music.

Tell us about The Shadow of the Unicorn: The Legacy, and how the story came to be.

I loved writing as a child, and when I was in grade six, I wrote an eighteen-page, six chapter novella about unicorns for a class project. I was a total horse girl back in those days. I got an A+ for my story and always kept that little book in a safe place. Then, one day, I was surprised while cleaning the basement when I found the first four chapters of a rewrite in an old box full of kid stuff. I guess I must have started it in my teens and never finished. I chuckled and threw it in the recycling box outside, but my curiosity got the better of me, and I retrieved it two days later, dried it out, and read it. It completely captured my imagination, and a week later, I began rewriting it. Then two weeks later, the first draft was done. A month after that, I began The Shadow of the Unicorn: The Legacy.



Here's a sneak peak of The Shadow of the Unicorn: The Legacy:

A loud, hissing sound filled the air. The unicorns looked up, their eyes filled with horror.
Azaria, a unicorn colt, is intrigued when the young, clairvoyant dinosaur, Darius, foresees a terrifying change to their world. When a giant fireball smashes into the earth, the unicorns struggle to survive the hurricanes and starvation that follow. But nothing compares to the danger when the creatures-that-walk-on-two-legs settle in the valley, and their leader discovers the healing power in the unicorns’ horns. Greedy and ruthless, Ishmael will stop at nothing in his pursuit of wealth – even the complete extinction of the herd. Azaria must find a way to outsmart Ishmael before it’s too late.






Have you written other books? If so, tell us a bit about them.

I’ve written three unicorn books in all to complete The Shadow of the Unicorn trilogy. Then there’s my fiddling mystery A Town Bewitched which is about a fourteen-year-old child prodigy in classical violin struggling to fit into the small town of Hope, B.C. When a fiddler appears and bewitches the people, only the girl seems to know who has been vandalizing the town leaving tokens of dead and gutted birds. I’m just in the process of submitting this story now.

What’s next for your writing? Are you working on a new story?

I’m working furiously on a rewrite of the second of my unicorn trilogy and have a lot of other great ideas swimming around in my head for other novels too, everything from koalas to a YA historical fiction about another fiddler.

What advice do you have for other authors?

Write from the heart, and write to inspire.

Where can readers find you and your books?

The Shadow of the Unicorn is available from Muse It Up Publishing and will also be available on Kindle, Omnilit, and Coffeetime.

Anything else you want readers to know?

Yes, the most important bit of all. And that is half of all my proceeds for The Shadow of the Unicorn will go to the Third World Eye Care Society, a group of ophthalmologists who travel to underdeveloped countries delivering thousands of pairs of glasses and performing eye surgery for free. Having succumbed to a visual impairment myself recently, I realize how desperate it must be to have no options for poor vision and even blindness. They may never find a solution to my vision problem, but others can certainly be helped by this organization. It’s my way of giving back.



About Suzanne: Suzanne de Montigny enjoyed writing as a child and dreamed of one day being published, but her love of music won out – at least for the time being. Teaching classroom music in Greater Vancouver, she discovered she had a knack for storytelling when kids began pleading for her stories nearly every day at the end of class. When her children were born, she decided to take a couple of years out from teaching to raise them. That’s when she began writing, and has never looked back. She lives in Burnaby, B.C. with the three loves of her life – her husband and two boys.

Look for my review of The Shadow of the Unicorn: The Legacy on here in a couple of days. Can't wait to read it. I love unicorns!

Web Sites for Middle Grade Authors

I came across these fun websites for authors Riodan, Delaney, and Flanagan.

Riodan's site offers a section on Percy's Adventures as well as a section for More Worlds to Explore.

Delaney's website is suitably named The Spook's Mistake. The site offers visitors a chance to see if they have what it takes to be a Spook's Apprentice. There is also a place to sign up to receive the Spook's email newsletter.

Flanagan's website is The Ranger's Apprentice. The site offers in-depth accounts of the characters, heroes and villains alike, as well as maps of the different countries traveled through in the series.

Adults and young readers will enjoy exploring each of these sites.