Eloquent Quill Recipient on his Top Honors Award Winning Book

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?

Ol’ Pigtoes (prairie-papers.com)

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

Author Spotlight - Lumen Award Winning Title: Eagle of Delight, by Dr. Jean A. Lukesh

 

HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN WRITING?

I’ve been writing all my life, or for as long as I can remember.

　

WHAT INSPIRED YOU TO BEGIN WRITING?

I grew up with lots of books, and I have always loved stories and reading. It just seemed natural to me to write some of my own stories in my head and then tell them to my friends or to transfer them to paper. When listeners or readers wanted to hear more, I was hooked on writing.

　

WHAT WAS THE INSPIRATION BEHIND YOUR AWARD WINNING TITLE?

I have always loved the Old West, horses, and Native American culture and history. The young Otoe Indian woman in my book, and the Plains Indian chiefs who traveled with her, once lived not far from where I now live--but they lived more than a hundred years before I was born. They made history and then were almost forgotten. I was intrigued by their story, their journey, and their lives, and wanted to try to recreate it all in my mind and on paper, so that others would know and remember what they did--and what an amazing young woman she was.

 

IS THIS YOUR FIRST BOOK? No, I have written and published several other books, as well as some magazine and newspaper articles. I write the "Nebraska Trivia Quiz" for Nebraska Life Magazine. I sometimes mentor and/or edit other authors and their books, and some of those have won book awards.

　

WHAT OTHER BOOKS HAVE YOU PUBLISHED?

My books include the following:

•The Nebraska Adventure (Gibbs Smith Co., 2005), a 4th grade Nebraska studies textbook (national, state, and humanities award-winning book)

•Lucky Ears: The True Story of Ben Kuroki, World War II Hero (Noteworthy Americans series, Field Mouse Productions, 2010) (2-time national/international award-winning book)

•Sky Rider: The Story of Evelyn Sharp, World War II WASP (Women Airforce Service Pilot) (Noteworthy Americans series, Field Mouse Productions, 2011)

•Wolves in Blue: Stories of the North Brothers and Their Pawnee Scouts (Noteworthy Americans series, Field Mouse Productions, 2011) (2-time national/international award-winning book)

•Doorstep Orphan: Eugene Field and a Trilogy of His Best Loved Poems (Field Mouse Productions, 2012) (2-time national/international award-winning book)

•Do You Know a Hero? (Field Mouse Productions, 2012)

•My Favorite Dog and Cat Story (Field Mouse Productions, 2013)

DO YOU HAVE ANY NEW BOOKS IN THE WORKS?

I am currently working on another biography of one of the Native Americans who traveled with Eagle of Delight. He was a Pawnee chief who also had an amazing impact on history--and he lived not more than 15 miles from my home (as the crow flies) but more than a hundred years before I was born. I started his book about 40 years ago and am just getting back to it. I hope to have it out and available from Field Mouse Productions in 2014.

　

TELL US A LITTLE ABOUT YOURSELF:

I was a school librarian and teacher for 30 years before retiring a few years ago so that I could continue to write my own books. I have a doctorate in education, and my children’s books have educational value. My historical nonfiction books, my small press, and I have now won 10 national/international book awards and numerous other honors.

TELL US SOMETHING FUN THAT OUR READERS MIGHT FIND FASCINATING ABOUT YOU:

*I have six horses, including 3 black Arabians; one is a grand-daughter and one is a great-grandson of Cass Ole, the primary black stallion featured in two of the Walter Farley Black Stallion movies.

*I spent a lot of my early years reading tombstones in the huge old cemetery where my beloved grandfather worked. Those epitaphs, names, and dates intrigued me and made me wonder and daydream about the lives and deaths of the people beneath the stones. That was part of my great fascination with history and words.

WHAT DO YOU MOST ENJOY DOING IN YOUR SPARE TIME?

When I have time, I really enjoy reading, writing, or trailriding my horses across country, also visiting historical sites and cemeteries.

WHAT’S YOUR FAVORITE MOVIE?

I still love westerns (in addition to many other kinds of shows/movies). My favorite movies are Jeremiah Johnson and The Magnificent Seven.

HAS YOUR BOOK RECEIVED ANY OTHER AWARDS?

Yes, my book has also received a 2013 MOONBEAM Young Adult Multicultural Nonfiction Gold Medal.

WHAT CHALLENGES DO YOU FACE AS AN AUTHOR? 

In this digital age, there are so many different publishing avenues open that almost anyone can get published (quickly and relatively inexpensively), but there are so many books out that it is very hard to get your book noticed and purchased. Authors also need to spend a significant amount of time marketing their own books, and that takes up a lot of writing time.

DO YOU HAVE ANY ADVICE FOR OTHER ASPIRING AUTHORS?

Yes, write, write, write, let it get cold, read it aloud, and then write and edit some more. Repeat those steps until the book is the best it can be. The more you write, the more you perfect your craft. Also read (and sometimes research), a lot, in between writing!

　

CAN YOU OFFER ANY TIPS ON GETTING PUBLISHED?

Yes, join writing groups that can help you achieve your goals, but don’t allow people or organizations to drain away your writing time or your desire to be a writer. Look for mentors who are willing to help you learn; listen to them, but also decide your own way to go. Give back by paying it forward, to help younger or less experienced writers whenever you can.

　

IS THERE ANYTHING ELSE YOU’D LIKE TO SHARE WITH OUR READERS?

I have a certificate in publishing from Denver University Publishing Institute. It was a great and most worthwhile course that has helped me immensely with my own writing, editing, and publishing. During that course, I worked closely with New York publishers and university publishers. I still do some edit work for various small presses closer to my home, but seldom make any money at it. Most of my time is spent writing my own books

LITERARY CLASSICS Book Reviews & Awards http://literaryclassicsreviews.com