WHAT INSPIRED YOU TO BECOME A WRITER?
The thought of putting a smile on a reader’s face.
WAS THERE A TEACHER OR OTHER MENTOR WHO INFLUENCED YOUR WRITING - PLEASE ELABORATE:
My co-author, Jim McGuiggan of Belfast, Northern Ireland, is the author of 20 to 30 books. The depth of his wisdom and the engaging style in which he presents his wisdom has always captivated me. When I write, I try to write like Jim.
HOW DID YOU GET THE IDEA FOR YOUR AWARD WINNING BOOK?
Reading the story of the green children of Woolpit in a magazine on Scottish history and thinking I could turn it into a sort of Celtic Wizard of Oz.
WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE LINE FROM YOUR AWARD WINNING BOOK AND WHY?
"It's true that in this world there are Scrums who do terrible things. But there are other folk who do honorable and lovely things, and among the finest of these is this: they come offering their hand and heart in friendship and having come, they stay all their life through." My friends, to paraphrase Lincoln, are some of my greatest treasures. To write a story extolling the glory and richness of friendship seemed like a worthy endeavor.
WHICH OF YOUR CHARACTERS FROM YOUR AWARD WINNING TITLE DO YOU BELIEVE ARE MOST LIKE YOU AND WHY?
Ennis or Orin, Scrum's (the bad guy’s) henchmen. Both are bumblers, which I tend to be.
WHAT MESSAGE DO YOU HOPE READERS WILL GLEAN FROM YOUR AWARD WINNING BOOK?
There are times in life when we need friends who are courageous and who love us enough to be courageous on our behalf.
TELL US SOMETHING ABOUT YOUR EXPERIENCE AS A WRITER:
Something random: encountering kids in public who have read my book or heard me read it, and making a fuss about knowing me. I love that.
IF YOU COULD BE COMPARED TO A WELL-KNOWN AUTHOR WHO WOULD YOU MOST WANT THIS TO BE AND WHY?
G. K. Chesterton. I cannot touch the hem of Chesterton’s garment in terms of originality and genius, but Chesterton never took himself too seriously and was a big kid at heart. No one is more boring to me than the one who can’t see the humor in life and takes him- or herself too seriously.
WHAT BOOK / PERSON / INCIDENT HAS HAD THE GREATEST IMPACT ON YOUR LIFE?
There are too many to mention, but one of my earliest influences in terms of children’s fantasy literature was the Teenie Weenies books by William Donahey.
HOW DID YOU FIND AN AGENT / GET PUBLISHED?
I sent out a couple hundred e-mails seeking an agent, without success. So I self-published.
IF A CLOSE FRIEND OR LOVED ONE WANTED TO WRITE A BOOK, WHAT GREATEST PIECE OF ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE THEM?
If it’s an illustrated book, their biggest challenge will be finding an artist who can portray their vision at a price they can afford.
CAN YOU OFFER ANY ADVICE FOR WRITERS ON HOW BEST TO PROMOTE THEIR BOOK?
I don’t think I’ve done too well in this category. I’ve mainly relied on Facebook, word of mouth, and sales at some local craft shows.
WHAT HAS BEEN YOUR GREATEST LITERARY ACCOMPLISHMENT?
I’ve written a book on the resurrection called The Gospel Argument for God that has gone through several editions. I’ve also written a commentary on the Gospel of Matthew that is soon to appear as a revised edition.
WHAT ARE YOUR GREATEST LITERARY ASPIRATIONS?
At this point in life, to write on some other Biblical subjects.
TELL US SOMETHING PEOPLE MAY NOT KNOW ABOUT YOU THAT THEY MIGHT FIND INTERESTING:
The Green Children has been turned into a musical play, which had its world premiere in Champaign, Illinois, in September 2017. The play is a bigger story than the book, with more characters and a more developed plot. We’ve put together an outstanding cast (all the principals are from the Lyric Theatre program at the University of Illinois). There’s no business like show business!
WHAT OTHER BOOKS HAVE YOU PUBLISHED?
The Gospel Argument for God (currently out of print)
Commentary on Matthew (DeWard Publishing)
DO YOU HAVE ANYTHING ELSE YOU'D LIKE TO SHARE WITH OUR AUDIENCE?
Parents have asked me if my children’s stories are scary. Of course they are! But children like being a little scared. C. S. Lewis, in a lecture on writing children’s stories, said: "Since it is likely that children will meet with cruel enemies in life, let them at least have heard of brave knights and heroic courage.” There are no knights in my story, but there are brownies, gnomes, and hobgolins who are loving and courageous. Maybe my tale will, in some small way, encourage courage and love in all who read it.
LITERARY CLASSICS Book Awards & Reviews International Book Awards • Top Honors Youth Book Awards • Seal of Approval http://www.clcawards.org
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