A: It depends on how long I spend focusing on one particular idea. I tend to work on more than one project at a time. Six months is an average time for writing a picture book. Then, when a manuscript is accepted for publication, I spend time editing it with the publisher, so that adds a couple more months.
Q: Did you always want to be an author?
A: When I was in first grade, I wanted to be a paleontologist. I was crazy about dinosaurs. As I got older, I got more interested in art, filmmaking, and writing. I knew I wanted to do something creative, but I didn’t know exactly what it would be. I’ve gotten to do a little bit of all the things I enjoy. I even get to write songs for children’s videos.
Q: Where do you get your ideas?
A: Some ideas come from things I had trouble with as a kid: peas and math. Other ideas come from things I loved as a kid: Halloween and fables. I’m surprised I haven’t written a book about dinosaurs. Maybe I should do that.
Q: What were your favorite books when you were a kid?
A: Danny and the Dinosaur, by Syd Hoff
Horton Hears a Who, by Dr. Seuss
Why I Built The Boogle House, by Helen Palmer
A Fish out of Water, by Helen Palmer
Runaway Ralph, by Beverly Cleary
King of the Wind, by Marguerite Henry (my 5th grade teacher read this to our class)
The Lion’s Paw, by Robb White (my 4th grade teacher read this book to our class)
The Hobbit, by J.R.R. Tolkien
My Book of Poetry (This is a book that my mother had from her childhood. She would read it to us at bedtime. These poems are a big reason why I like to write verse and rhyming stories.)
The Lotus Caves, by John Christopher.
As I got older, I got more into science fiction with books like Dune, by Frank Herbert, and short stories by Ray Bradbury.
Q: Why did you decide to become an author?
A: I think I wanted to write children’s books because of the magical moments that I spent reading when I was a kid. I enjoy writing because I enjoy reading. Writing is interactive reading. You get to decide what happens in the story. But that doesn’t mean new twists and characters don’t surprise you as you write your story. My teachers encouraged my writing and that helped me believe I could be a writer of some sort.
Q: Which one of your books is your favorite?
A: My favorite manuscript is always the one I’m working on. Most readers like The Monster Who Ate My Peas best. But Gnu and Shrew is starting to become a favorite for some readers. I have a tender spot for Trick or Treat on Monster Street. That might be my favorite. That’s why I decided to adapt it as a musical.
Q: What’s the hardest thing about writing a book?
A: Coming up with ideas is the easy part for me. When an idea is new and shiny, it’s exciting. As you get deeper into writing the story, the shininess wears off a little bit. You might start to doubt that your story is worth telling or worth publishing. You might start to doubt that you’re a good enough writer. At these moments, it’s important to believe in yourself. If you persevere and keep at it, you’ll start to see glimmers of that shininess again and remember why your idea excited you when it was brand new. The more you write, the better you get at pushing through those doubtful moments. They are the hardest part about writing a book.
Q: What’s the funniest question you’ve gotten at a school visit?
A: I talk a lot about the importance of rewriting. A boy raised his hand and said, “Why don’t you just do it right the first time?” It would be wonderful if I could do that. The truth is, the best parts of my books were created in the rewrites, in the later drafts of the story. Rewriting is so very important because it’s really the essence of writing. Writing is a journey. You have to be willing to go on that journey, not knowing how long it will take, or how many rewrites you might have to do, or whether the story will ever get published.
Q: Have you written anything besides books?
A: I have written tv commercials, screenplays, scripts and songs for children’s educational tv shows, and other original songs. I adapted my book Trick or Treat on Monster Street into a musical play with songs that I wrote. I also adapted The Monster Who Ate My Peas into a musical play which was performed a few places.
Q: Did you have any other jobs before you were a children’s author?
A: On summer breaks in high school I worked as a narrator on The African Queen boat ride at Busch Gardens in Tampa. I have worked on tv commercials as writer, film and video editor, camera assistant, sound recordist, and director. I’ve worked as a video editor on television shows. I’ve written scripts and songs for television shows. I’ve also worked as a visual artist and taught acrylic painting classes.
Q: What are your hobbies?
A: I enjoy reading, playing guitar, hiking, playing board games, watching movies, collecting monster toys, painting miniatures for Dungeons and Dragons, and playing D&D.
Q: Do you have advice for young people who dream of being a writer someday?
A: The only way to learn to write is to write. The more time you spend writing, and re-writing, and re-writing again, the better you’ll get. Read lots of different books. Read “the classics,” the books that have stood the test of time. If you don’t know any classic books, ask your media specialist for suggestions. Writers absorb elements of the flavor of all the books they read. We learn by reading. Make an idea box and decorate it. Write down your ideas before you forget them and put them in the box. Your ideas are valuable. Treat them with respect. Keep them safe.
Q: Do you have advice for adults who want to write a children’s book?
A: Again, I would tell them that the only way to learn to write is to actually write. Join the SCBWI, Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators (scbwi.org) to learn more about the craft of writing. Attending SCBWI conferences will give you opportunities to make connections with editors, agents, authors, illustrators, and fellow writers. SCBWI can also help you find a local critique group. Being part of a writing group gives me a deadline each week, because I know I have to have something to show the group. It also gives me a circle of writing friends. We pool our knowledge and help each other along the path to publication. Read as many children’s books as you can and be aware of the market. Don’t try to ride the coattails of the latest trend. Write the story that you want to read. Write from your heart.
