HOW DID YOU GET THE IDEA FOR YOUR AWARD WINNING BOOK? Even as a writer, when I had to look up a particular grammar rule, I often found grammar books or grammar site explanations hard to follow. The thought occurred to me that I’m probably not the only one. I decided that grammar needed to be explained in simpler terms, starting with the basics. To make the book more fun, I incorporated the zany fantasy characters from my multi-award-winning children’s series The Pen Pieyu Adventures to be in the example sentences. The book is fun and has cool illustrations too. I’m glad that kids, and adults alike, are appreciating the book and that the book is helping them to learn grammar with its easy-to-understand lessons and examples.
WHAT MESSAGE DO YOU HOPE READERS WILL GLEAN FROM YOUR AWARD-WINNING BOOK? Learning can be fun!
WHO INSPIRED YOU TO BECOME A WRITER? Many authors have inspired me, ever since I first learned to read, but the person who inspired me the most is my mother—she taught me that I could be whatever I wanted to be in life, and I wanted to be a writer.
WHO HAS HAD THE GREATEST INFLUENCE ON YOUR WRITING STYLE?
Lemony Snicket and his series A Series of Unfortunate Events. The author has an incredible sense of humor that kids understand. No matter the tale, he flawlessly suspends disbelief through excellence of building characters and writing style. I greatly admire that.
TELL US AN INTERESTING FACT ABOUT YOUR EXPERIENCE AS A WRITER:
My first book was rejected 29 times before being accepted by a traditional publisher—about the same amount of times as Dr. Seuss’ first book was rejected.
TELL US A LITTLE ABOUT YOUR WRITING PROCESS: My creativity comes and goes in waves, and I never push it. When the creativity wave hits me, I’m often up at two or three in the morning and write for twelve hours straight, for days on end.
WHAT IS YOUR GREATEST CHALLENGE AS A WRITER? It takes me a long time to produce a book because I’m extremely particular and I don’t write when I’m not feeling creative. I’ve tried to take the advice of many well-known authors and write every day, but it just doesn’t work for me and it’s frustrating.
IF YOU COULD BE COMPARED TO A WELL-KNOWN AUTHOR WHO WOULD YOU MOST WANT THIS TO BE? C.S. Lewis because I think it’s important to incorporate good values in characters and stories while creating a believable world.
HOW DID YOU GET PUBLISHED? For several years I was with a traditional publisher, which was very hard to find: 29 rejections later, my first book was published with a traditional publisher. In 2017, I decided to become my own publisher, got back my rights, learned the self-publishing business, and never looked back.
CAN YOU OFFER ANY ADVICE FOR WRITERS ON HOW BEST TO PROMOTE THEIR BOOK? From my experience, publishing my own books has allowed me more access to promoting and putting my books on sale without the restrictions of a traditional publisher.
WHAT HAS BEEN YOUR GREATEST LITERARY ACCOMPLISHMENT? Winning a Gold Award and a Lumen Award in 2018 from Literary Classics for The Dragon Grammar Book.
WHAT ARE YOUR GREATEST LITERARY ASPIRATIONS? To always write the best books I can and have the reader enjoy the books.
TELL US SOMETHING PEOPLE MAY NOT KNOW ABOUT YOU THAT THEY MIGHT FIND INTERESTING: I’m an artist but I don’t illustrate my own books.
WHAT OTHER BOOKS HAVE YOU PUBLISHED?
Sir Princess Petra – The Pen Pieyu Adventures
Sir Princess Petra’s Talent – The Pen Pieyu Adventures
Sir Princess Petra’s Mission – The Pen Pieyu Adventures
Sir Princess Petra Coloring Book
The Forest Painter
All can be found on my Amazon Author Page
DO YOU HAVE ANY NEW BOOKS IN THE WORKS? I’m working on another grammar book, with the same fun Pen Pieyu characters giving the grammar lessons, that will elaborate on grammar terminology. The book will be available on Amazon and with most online book distributors, and on my website: www.dragonsbook.com
LITERARY CLASSICS Book Awards & Reviews International Book Awards • Top Honors Youth Book Awards • Seal of Approval http://www.clcawards.org
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