Mama Diaries

Thursday, July 18, 2013

Blog Hop Interview






I've been tagged by Diana at DJ's Thoughts for a Children's Author Blog Hop Interview.  I'm supposed to answer a few questions about my writing and then tag another author.

Here are the questions:


1. What are you working on right now?  I'm working on a chapter book series in which the protagonists, two kids named Bubba and Squirt, travel through a hole and end up in different countries.  They have adventures while learning about the history, culture, and language of the places.  My agent has been submitting the first book, Big Hole to China, to publishing houses in the UK.  I'll let you know if it gets picked up.  I've also been working on a few picture books.

2. How does it differ from other works in its genre? The chapter books are similar to the Magic Tree House series by Mary Pope Osborne, in that the kids travel to different places.  The difference is that Bubba and Squirt arrive in the present-day country (not in the past as is the case with Magic Tree House books), and learn a lot more about the language and culture of the places they visit. 

3. What experiences have influenced you?  I have done a lot of traveling and visited many of the countries I write about.  Learning about different cultures has always fascinated me.  I thought that writing books about these places would be a great way for kids to get a snapshot of the world in which they live. 

4. Why do you write what you do?   I really enjoy writing for children.  I love using my imagination and building worlds.  I also like to learn.  Writing these chapter books is a way for me to do that, and to share my knowledge with kids.

5. How does your writing process work? I begin by deciding which country I would like Bubba and Squirt to visit.  Then I come up with a basic plot.  After I've figured out that, I do a lot of research and write an outline.  Finally, I begin writing, chapter by chapter until it's done.  Of course the first draft inevitably needs revision.  I let it sit a while to clear my head, and then the revision process begins.  As far as picture books go, the process is a little different.  I come up with an idea, then a title, and then I just write.  It's more spontaneous. 

6. What is the hardest part about writing? Revising.  It takes forever to get things just right.  And when I think I have it all figured out, somebody like a critique group person or editor will point something out that could use even more revision.  It's almost like a never-ending process! 

7. What would you like to try as a writer that you haven't yet? I think someday I'd like to try writing a novel.  That's a huge undertaking.  But I think it would be cool to write something that could possibly be turned into a movie.

8. Who are the authors you most admire? I like Mary Pope Osborne, Rick Riordan, Jane Yolan, and Kate DiCamillo.

9. What scares you? Working so hard on my manuscripts and never seeing them published.  That would be a major bummer!
 
 
Deanie Humphrys-Dunne is the next author who will be participating in this tag.  Her post will be up on July 21st.  Be sure to stop by and read about her experiences as a children's author. (If you are a children's author and would like to participate in this blog hop, please let me know.) 
 

39 comments:

  1. Very interesting, my dear. Big Hole to China is a great title, and I know the book will be good because it's by the Mama.

    Love,
    Janie

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you, Janie! You always have the nicest things to say!

      Delete
  2. Nice interview and yeah writing for kids lets me stay childish, so works for me haha

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Ha! And we all know you're the biggest kid around!

      Delete
    2. Thumbs up for Kiddy Cat Pat! (even if he split me in two...)

      Delete
  3. Your Bubba & Squirt book sounds super. I hope the UK bites. So to speak.

    ReplyDelete
  4. What a fun idea for a chapter book series! One of the coolest things about books is how you can visit new places without actually visiting them, so I think it's great how you're going to give kids that opportunity. Good luck with the UK publishers!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks. I think teachers would like these books, too.

      Delete
  5. Sounds like an excellent idea for a series. Good luck with the UK submissions.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you! I really hope to hear some good news one of these days!

      Delete
  6. Great interview, Sherry! Thanks for participating in the blog hop!

    ReplyDelete
  7. Thanks gie sharing so much about you. I travel a fair bit too and that has influenced my writing.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. It's really nice to be able to use those experiences and create a story.

      Delete
  8. I LOVE the Magic Tree House series. I bet your chapter books will be AMAZING :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Aw, that's so nice of you to say! I hope a publisher thinks they're amazing and decides to buy them!

      Delete
  9. I"m sure all of your books will be huge successes, Sherry! It is frustrating when you think everything is ready and something else pops up. When that happens to me, I always think there's something else I must have missed. Yikes.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I know. It's all part of the process. It just takes so long to get things "perfect"!

      Delete
  10. Awesome! I hope the book series gets picked up because it sound fun and educational, too! Great interview. :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you! I hope it gets picked up, too. I've read some of the first book to school kids during author visits, and they all said they loved it and couldn't wait for it to be in print.

      Delete
  11. A novel turned into a movie is most authors dream, even though the movie will more than likely suck

    ReplyDelete
  12. Fantastic! Sounds like so much fun. Have a lovely weekend!

    ReplyDelete
  13. Keeping my fingers crossed for you.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks! I bet your blue fingers will be lucky!

      Delete
  14. Good luck with your submissions. I loved reading about your writing process; that kind of thing fascinates me.

    Have a great weekend!

    ReplyDelete
  15. Great interview. So exciting! All the best to your chapter books. :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you. The wait is always so hard! I just have to keep working on other manuscripts so I don't get too impatient.

      Delete
  16. your projects sound exciting, Sherry!

    ReplyDelete
  17. Always so interesting to learn about the processes of other writers. I love how you take inspiration from what's around you and spin it into writing gold!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. It's amazing how much inspiration comes from everyday life!

      Delete
  18. Is Bubba based on ... Bubba? Keep on keepin' on; the series sounds great.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. The name, "Bubba" was inspired by Bubba. There are some similarities in their personalities, too.

      Delete
  19. Interesting interview. Your chapter book series sounds great.

    ReplyDelete
  20. Yes, a book turned into a movie would be awesome...your book series sounds wonderful and I wish you the best with it.

    ReplyDelete