Author Spotlight

AUTHOR'S NAME:  Summer Brenner

TITLE OF LITERARY CLASSICS AWARD WINNING BOOK:  Ivy, Homeless in San Francisco

HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN WRITING?  Decades

WHAT WAS THE INSPIRATION BEHIND YOUR AWARD WINNING TITLE, IVY, HOMELESS IN SAN FRANCISCO? I was inspired to write poetry as a teenager to express difficult and conflicting feelings.  At the time, I thought writing was the most interesting thing  I could ever do.  I still think so.

For a year I volunteered at a day-time, drop-in shelter for women and children.  Meeting and working with these women was a profound experience.  Breaking down the stereotypes of homelessness inspired me to write a portrait of a homeless young person and her father.

HAVE YOU PUBLISHED ANY OTHER BOOKS?
I've published books for adults and children.  Richmond Tales, Lost Secrets of the Iron Triangle is a time-travel pre-teen novel about two inner-city kids, Mario and Maisha, who live in a dangerous section of Richmond, California (called the Iron Triangle).  They journey back to Native American, early 20th century and WWII Richmond; and into the future when they are grown and have remade their city.  Available at Amazon.com.

TELL US A LITTLE ABOUT YOURSELF:
I was raised in Atlanta, Georgia.  Aside from Northern California where I've been a long-time resident, I have also resided in New England and New Mexico.  In addition to writing, I work on literacy-related projects with low-income youth.

AUTHOR'S NAME:  Summer Brenner

TITLE OF LITERARY CLASSICS AWARD WINNING BOOK:  Ivy, Homeless in San Francisco

HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN WRITING?  Decades

WHAT WAS THE INSPIRATION BEHIND YOUR BOOK I was inspired to write poetry as a teenager to express difficult and conflicting feelings.  At the time, I thought writing was the most interesting thing  I could ever do.  I still think so.

WHO IS YOUR FAVORITE AUTHOR AND WHY?
For a year I volunteered at a day-time, drop-in shelter for women and children.  Meeting and working with these women was a profound experience.  Breaking down the stereotypes of homelessness inspired me to write a portrait of a homeless young person and her father.

HAVE YOU PUBLISHED ANY OTHER BOOKS?
I've published books for adults and children.  Richmond Tales, Lost Secrets of the Iron Triangle is a time-travel pre-teen novel about two inner-city kids, Mario and Maisha, who live in a dangerous section of Richmond, California (called the Iron Triangle).  They journey back to Native American, early 20th century and WWII Richmond; and into the future when they are grown and have remade their city.  Available at Community Works.

TELL US A LITTLE ABOUT YOURSELF:
I was raised in Atlanta, Georgia.  Aside from Northern California where I've been a long-time resident, I have also resided in New England and New Mexico.  In addition to writing, I work on literacy-related projects with low-income youth.

CAN YOU OFFER ANY TIPS ON HOW TO GET PUBLISHED?
Trying to get published is the most unpleasant aspect of writing.  Coping with rejection is equally unpleasant.  The trick is not to get discouraged and to remember, you write because you love it.


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