Scuffy the Tugboat is a typical “there’s no place like home” story or at its most diabolical, a treatise against the big bad unknown world. Great illustrations by Tibor Gergely accompany the bright and flowing text of Gertrude Crampton.
I recently had the pleasure to ask up and coming country artist Doug Briney a bunch of questions. He was a real trooper and was forthcoming to even the most personal of my inquiries. If you haven’t heard Doug sing yet, you’ll be happy to follow the links after the Read more…
I’m so happy Amy Rose took some time out of her busy busy busy schedule to answer some questions for GotInterviews.com. I’ve come up with what I hope would be some questions you’d ask if you sat down in a honkytonk with her some Saturday night after a show. I Read more…
This review originally appeared Mmmmm, That’s Good Coffee – Written by Rick Stilwell (reposted here by permission) With his latest book, Brian McLaren has given his readers a title that’s more controversial than the contents, and a thought process that is challenging and life-stretching for anyone wanting to look Read more…
Carol Gordon Ekster Speaks Carol Gordon Ekster is an amazing author. She writes for children and she does an inspiring and encouraging job. She is the author of Where Am I Sleeping Tonight?- A Story of Divorce and Ruth the Sleuth and the Messy Room. I first remember Carol from Read more…
Sheri Bell-Rehwoldt is a very talented writer and also an online marketing specialist. That may be a key to why her books sell so well. She’s an awesome interviewee and I was blessed when she said she’d answer some questions for GotInterviews.com. Thanks Sheri. Now onto the interview. When did Read more…
Donna Earnhardt is not only a picture book writer, she’s also a great photographer. You’ll find her links at the bottom of this interview. She’s also very active on Google+. You can connect with Donna in lots of different ways. One of the coolest things about Donna is her first Read more…
Jill, can you remember the first encouraging comment you received about your writing?
Twelve years ago, I took a beginning class for aspiring children’s writers, and my instructor, a prolific author, read my first picture book manuscript and said, “You ARE going to submit this.” That helped.
What do you most love about the writing life?
The freedom. For the most part, nobody’s telling you what to write, when to write, how to write. You sink or swim on your own. I like that challenge.
What advice would you give writers who are closing in on the 100 rejection mark without an acceptance of any sort?
Every author I know has cringe-worthy manuscripts squirreled away that they once thought were brilliant. You HAVE to learn to look at your own work with a critical eye. That’s tough sometimes, but crucial.
If someone has been continually hitting brick walls, I’d advise them to STOP and back up the truck. Remember, it’s not about the quantity of work you have circulating; it really is the quality that matters. Ideally, we need to submit only those manuscripts that editors will find irresistible. If they can say no, they will.
Oh, yeah. My advice. Select two or three favorite manuscripts and have them professionally critiqued. A fresh perspective is invaluable.
Also, if you’ve never tried writing for magazines, give it a try. Submitting to magazines taught me a lot, and the occasional acceptances made me feel like a “real” writer and gave me the confidence to deal with editors without blathering incoherently (well, sometimes). And don’t fret about selling your work for all rights. Really. The odds that you’ll ever in a million years “turn a magazine story into a picture book” are virtually nil. The two are entirely different animals. Now somebody will write to me to say they did that. 🙂 Tip: Good nonfiction sells like crazy.
How many total stories have you written? Even count those that you’ll never show anybody.
Oh, boy. I’d have to guess….50? I don’t think I have any that I’ve never shown anybody, even the stinkers. Hey, I didn’t KNOW they were stinkers at the time. Over the years, my embarrassment threshold has fallen to the point that I no longer have one.