WHEN DID YOU FIRST KNOW YOU WANTED TO BE A WRITER AND WHY?
I caught the writing bug when I was battling breast cancer for the second time. Most of my time was spent going to doctors appointments and I needed something positive to focus on. I started writing about what I knew best; which was my children. I soon realized that this was something I enjoyed and it helped me take my mind off my health issues.
AS A CHILD, WHAT DID YOU ASPIRE TO BE WHEN YOU GREW UP?
I had always wanted to become a teacher; however that didn’t happen. Instead I spent most of my working career in the medical field.
HOW DID YOU GET THE IDEA FOR YOUR AWARD WINNING TITLE?
My children’s book series Ali and Buddy was inspired by my own children. My two children Eric and Alicia, who are now adults, are the main characters in my books.
TELL US SOMETHING RANDOM/INTERESTING/FUNNY ABOUT YOUR EXPERIENCE AS A WRITER:
It’s really fun to see the children’s reactions when they learn that Ali and Buddy are not fictional characters; and that they are my own children. Often times Eric and Alicia have joined me at book signing events and the children are so excited to actually get to meet the “real” Ali and Buddy. They get to meet story book characters and that really excites young readers. They have even asked to have Ali and Buddy sign their books!
WHICH AUTHOR HAS MOST GREATLY INFLUENCED YOUR WRITING STYLE? Chris Van Allsburg, I would have to say has influenced me and my writing. Like him I didn’t set out to write children’s books. I’m inspired by a child’s endless imagination. Chris Van Allsburg's writing takes the reader on an adventure. I hope children reading my books will want to follow many adventures with Ali and Buddy.
WHAT BOOK HAS HAD THE GREATEST IMPACT ON YOUR LIFE?
The Anthology of Children’s Literature (Fourth Revised Edition); my family had this book when I was a child and to this day I still have the book. I remember my parents reading this book to us and now I read it to my grandchildren. This book has a wonderful collection of some of the best in children’s literature.
WHAT HAS BEEN YOUR GREATEST LITERARY ACCOMPLISHMENT?
I’m relatively new to the world of children’s literature. I would have to say my greatest accomplishment so far was to be awarded the Children’s Literary Classics Seal of Approval. Then being selected as 2015 award finalist. Then ultimately my books were chosen for the Gold & Silver in their category; General/Preschool.
DO YOU HAVE ANY NEW BOOKS IN THE WORKS?
Yes, my next book in the Ali and Buddy Children’s Book Series will be titled “Baby take a Bow”.
The manuscript for this book is almost ready to be sent to my publisher. I look forward to releasing this title in 2016. It will be available through Tate Publishing. I’m also working on another book which will focus mainly on Buddy. I hope to continue adding additional adventures of Ali and Buddy to this series.
LITERARY CLASSICS Book Awards & Reviews International Book Awards • Top Honors Youth Book Awards • Seal of Approval http://www.clcawards.org
Congratulations on your great success!
ReplyDeleteMaryEllen