LDSPBP: Interview with Caralyn Buehner

Gamila: Please tell our readers a little bit about yourself and your work.

Caralyn:   I was the fifth child in a family of bookworms, so reading was something I grew up doing.  It became my favorite occupation, and I think now that I probably grew up to be short because I spent too much time at night hiding under the covers with a flashlight and a book.  In that respect I haven't changed - still regularly lose sleep to read, and would rather read than see a movie any day.  The result of that is that I have an appreciation for where words can take you. 

I've been fortunate enough to be able to write picture books, and work almost exclusively with an incredible illustrator - my husband Mark.   Most often when I write now, if I'm writing something that's intended for the commercial market, I'm also writing with him and his preferences in mind, because I would rather work with him than anyone!

In my personal life, I am busy with the maintenance of daily life, and feel richly blessed to be a mom.

Gamila: What made you decide to publish picture books?

Caralyn:  My path into this profession was different than most authors.  Mark had a successful book out and was working on another when he encouraged me to put an idea we discussed down on paper, which we took to his editor.  So I came in on his coattails.

Gamila: What authors in your field do you admire? Which of their strengths so you strive to emulate in your own work?

Caralyn:  In this particular field that is  actually a difficult question, because my response to a book is dependent not only on the writing, but also on the art.  Where it seems that I collect the books of an author, it usually means that they are also the illustrator.   Let's talk books instead.

Here's what's coming to mind:

Favorite comfort reads:  GOODNIGHT MOON, BLUEBERRIES FOR SAL.

Favorite authors who deal with children's emotions:  Helen Lester,  Kevin Henkes

Best counting book:  MY LITTLE SISTER ATE ONE HARE, by Bill Grossman

Most creative art (other than Mark):  David Shannon

Great collaborators:  Audrey and Don Wood, Steve Johnson and Lou Francher

Best potty book: Wendy Cheyette Lewison's (THE PRINCESS AND THE POTTY)

Best early readers:  Syd Hoff.  Nostalgic, and totally wackadoo.  And the books about Otto (the robot). 

Favorite rhythmic read-aloud books:  CHICKA CHICKA BOOM BOOM, BEDTIME AT THE SWAMP, THE LITTLE OLD LADY WHO WAS NOT AFRAID OF ANYTHING, EACH PEACH,PEAR, PLUM

Best books I bought in 2011, both with a fabulous marriage of art and text:  A CHICKEN IN THE FAMILY, THE PRINCESS AND THE PIG

Best little girl book:  FANCY NANCY

Best foreign picture book artist:  Poly Bernatene

Illustrators from the Uk to check out:  Simon Bartram, Rob Scottom

I'd better not get started on the holiday books.

Gamila: The brevity of text in the picture book requires unique storytelling skills. What process did you take to learn this art?

Caralyn:  I spent quite a bit of time in my middle school and high school years writing poetry, and as I've reflected on that, I think it has influenced my writing quite a bit.  I tend to hear - internally, in my head- snatches of phrases, and they work their way into lines of a book.  But  working closely with an illustrator has probably done more for my technique.  It's obvious, when I see how he creates and the freedom he needs, that I don’t have to describe anything when I write, unless I need an quick adjective to shed light on the personality or tendencies of a character.  In fact, it's much better that I don’t.  

Gamila: what is the most rewarding thing about being a picture book author? What is the most discouraging?

Caralyn:  There are three things that I  love about writing picture books.  I love that I can do it at home, I love that I can work with Mark, and I love the people I am able to meet, including, and especially, the children.

The most discouraging thing is when something you feel is a good piece of writing is either rejected outright, or goes out of print.

Gamila: In your Mormon channel interview you expressed how you felt it was important to create safe places for kids in the picture books. I had never considered this idea before. Do you feel that there is a great lack of safe books? Or just an increase in edgy, scary, and crude books (bathroom humor, bad manners, etc.)in the market currently?

Caralyn: Fortunately, there are hundreds of wonderful picture books for children.  There aren't a lot of books that I feel are inappropriate, but the few that are out there always surprise me.   I always prefer a straightforward book to one which might be humorous, but which contains humor that  could really only be grasped by an adult, and I never buy books where I feel like the illustrations are ugly and degrading.   Illustrations should be beautiful in essence, regardless of their simplicity.

Gamila: Your educational background is in family and human development, and you sometimes address family issues on your blog. I would love to hear your thoughts  on how picture books in general can be used to strengthen the family.

Caralyn:  Certainly there's multiple benefits to reading picture books - and chapter books -  with your children.   The first significant benefit, and one that has been amply documented, is the fostering of literacy and language skills.  The interesting thing to me is how research is showing that the benefits may be even stronger if dad is the reader.   Children learn the language they hear,  and they can learn to speak at a much higher fluency level than they can initially read.  So parents should never be afraid to read challenging, longer, or more complex texts aloud.   IF a child is submersed in language, then when he meets it later in written form, it will be easier for him to make the connection and understand what he is reading.

I also believe strongly that training the ear to listen is a skill that needs to be strengthened.  Reading aloud, and reading books where there are few, if any, pictures allows the development of a good visual imagination, as well as a better ability to communicate verbally.    Our media today is saturated with amazing and powerful visual images, but if we aren't careful, we get a diet of visual stimuli without aural development.  I once read that teenagers 25 years ago has a vocabulary of some 25,000 words, and that the teens of today have a vocabulary of about 16,000 words.  This is suggestive of a generation raised in media markets that are designed for mass consumption, instead of being challenged by language that might be more archaic and obscure.  

Learning to listen also requires patience.  A parent who reads a chapter of a book at night helps a child learn to hold still, to focus, and to wait.  Would any school teacher mind having a classroom of children who could sit still and focus, because they had learned how at home?

The actual, physical picture book itself can be instructive as parents and children sample and select those things that appeal to them, and if they can articulate why, it is even better.  The language of a book; the humor;  the art and how it captures the environment or enhances the story; the plot; how the character handles his problems or makes them worse, are all things that can be discussed. Our local library has books set aside each year for the children to vote on for the a state book award.  This year my five-year-old and I are reading our way through the long list of nominees, and discussing each book, why we like it or don't like it, and it's very instructive (at least for me).  

And, of course, the actual physical act of snuggling up together strengthens familial bonds.  it's comforting for both the parent and child, forming a secure, warm place that a parent and child venture to separate from the realities or dismays of life.   I often have no idea what's happening in the video game my son is playing; I'm not in there watching and don't want to be, as long as I feel confident that it's appropriate material.  But when I read to him, or he to me, we are sharing the experience, and for that period of time, we are in the same world, seeing and hearing the same things.

It's no surprise that Strickland GIllian's  (1869-1954) poem, THE READING MOTHER, is so often quoted, although usually only the final four lines (in fact, I think I first remember hearing it in President Benson's talk, To the Mothers of the Church).   But the whole poem is wonderful, so I'm posting it here:

Strickland Gillian

The Reading Mother

 I had a mother who read to me

 Sagas of pirates who scoured the sea.

 Cutlasses clenched in their yellow teeth;

 "Blackbirds" stowed in the hold beneath.

 I had a Mother who read me lays

 Of ancient and gallant and golden days;

 Stories of Marmion and Ivanhoe,

 Which every boy has a right to know.

 I had a Mother who read me tales

 Of Gelert the hound of the hills of Wales,

 True to his trust till his tragic death,

 Faithfulness lent with his final breath.

 I had a Mother who read me the things

 That wholesome life to the boy heart brings-

 Stories that stir with an upward touch.

 Oh, that each mother of boys were such!

 You may have tangible wealth untold;

 Caskets of jewels and coffers of gold.

 Richer than I you can never be --

 I had a Mother who read to me.

Gamila:  Before we end tell us about your most current writing project or most recent release.

Caralyn:  Our next book, SNOWMEN AT WORK, will be in the stores this coming November (2012).   In this installment, whose cheery, happy snowmen are hard at work in all kinds of occupations.  The illustrations are absolutely fabulous, and I'm very excited and pleased. 

Currently Mark is beginning sketches for a Christmas book that I wrote a few months ago.  It's warm and sweet, and I am also very pleased and hopeful about this coming project.

LDSPBP:Interview with Sharlee Glenn

Gamila: Please tell our readers a little bit about yourself and your work.

Sharlee:I wanted to be a writer for as long as I can remember.  I came from a family of readers.  My mom used to claim that she must have had an extensive library stashed away somewhere in her womb--otherwise, there's no way under heaven her three girls would have consented to stay there for nine months!  I started writing stories and poems almost as soon as I could form my letters, and I began my first novel at age 11.  While in college and then later during my Master's program, I focused mostly on academic writing.  I was teaching at BYU and busy raising my family when an idea for a middle-grade novel grabbed hold of me and wouldn't let go.  I had no choice but to write the novel!  It was published in 1998 by Bookcraft (which later became part of Deseret Book).  My life was pretty crazy at that point.  I was teaching at BYU, had just given birth to my fifth child, and was helping care for my mother who was dying of cancer.  I flat-out didn't have the time or focus to be able to even think about trying to write another novel, so I decided to write picture books instead!  I've now published three picture books:  One in a Billion (Cornerstone), Keeping Up with Roo (G. P. Putnam's Sons), and Just What Mama Needs (Harcourt).  Just What Mama Needs was recently featured on the EMMY award-winning PBS children's show, Between the Lions.

Gamila: What made you decide to publish picture books?

Sharlee:  See above. :-)

Gamila: What authors in your field do you admire? Which of their strengths so you strive to emulate in your own work?

Sharlee:

The authors I most admire include Eudora Welty, Toni Morrison, and Marilynne Robinson.  My favorite middle-grade/YA authors are Patricia MacLachlan, Sharon Creech, Lois Lowry, Katherine Patterson, and Gary Schmidt.  As far a picture book writers go, I love Kevin Henkes, David Wiesner, and, of course, Maurice Sendak.

Gamila: The brevity of text in the picture book requires unique storytelling skills. What process did you take to learn this art?

Sharlee:Learning how to craft an effective picture book is a brutal process.  It took me a long time to figure out the difference between magazine-type stories and picture books.  I think it helped that I had written a lot of poetry.  There are a lot of similarities between a poem and a picture book--rhythm, brevity, imagery, compression, etc.

Gamila: what is the most rewarding thing about being a picture book author? What is the most discouraging?

Sharlee:The most rewarding thing is hearing that kids love your book--that they beg their parents to read it over and over and over.  The most discouraging thing is that the picture book market is so flat right now. 

Gamila: I love the subtle way that you convey your characters in Keeping up with Roo. What experiences inspired you to tackle the topic of special needs adults?

Sharlee: Keeping Up with Roo is a very special book to me.  The best way to describe my connection to the characters in the book would probably be to direct you to my acceptance speech when the book was given the Dolly Gray Children's Literature Award.  To read the full speech, go here:  http://daddcec.org/Portals/0/CEC/Autism_Disabilities/Research/Awards/Dolly_Gray/2006-DGA-Winner-Acceptance-Speech-Sharlee-Glenn.pdf

Gamila:  Before we end tell us about your most current writing project or most recent release.

Sharlee: My life has actually settled down a bit since I first started writing, so I'm returning to my first love--the middle-grade novel.  I have a work in progress that I'm quite excited about, but I don't want to give away too many details!  I'll just tell you this much:  it's tentatively titled Spitting in Space. :-)

Spitting in Space? That sound like so much fun! Thanks so much for taking the time to interview with me.

LDSPBP: Interview with Kristyn Crow

I hope you enjoy the interview with Kristyn Crow below. She was so kind to take the time to participate in this project even though she was insanely busy preparing for the Writing For Charity Event taking place this year in Provo, Utah on St. Patrick's Day. Hopefully those attending the conference have something nice to wear in the shade of green!

Gamila: Please tell our readers a little bit about yourself and your work.

Kristyn:  I am a mother of seven from Layton, Utah, who loves Beatles music, chocolate, and looking at the planets through a telescope.  I write snappy, rhythmic picture books with a musical vibe.  Most of my children sing, play piano, guitar, and a few write music, so music is a constant influence in our home. 

I have four picture books currently available for purchase, and two in production.  COOL DADDY RAT (G.P. Putnam's Sons), illustrated by Mike Lester, was released in 2009.  A few months later, BEDTIME AT THE SWAMP (HarperCollins), illustrated by Macky Pamintuan, was released.  In 2010, THE MIDDLE-CHILD BLUES (G.P. Putnam's Sons), illustrated by David Catrow became available, followed by THE REALLY GROOVY STORY OF THE TORTOISE AND THE HARE (Albert Whitman, Inc.), illustrated by Christina Forshay.

This fall, SKELETON CAT (Scholastic) is due to be released, and it's illustrated by the incredible Dan Krall.  And I have a new picture book from Walker Books which will follow in 2013.


Gamila: What made you decide to publish picture books?

Kristyn:

I have been writing stories since I was five years old, when I announced to my parents that I wanted to be an author when I grew up.  Writing has been a lifelong passion.  I had a mother who read me stories like, ALEXANDER AND THE TERRIBLE, HORRIBLE, NO-GOOD, VERY BAD DAY, and a father who could recite THE JABBERWOCKY from memory.  I was mesmerized by Dr. Suess books and  loved movies like THE JUNGLE BOOK with jazzy musical elements.   So there wasn't really a decision on my part to write picture books but a lifelong gnawing desire to create more of the literature I already loved.

Gamila: What authors in your field do you admire? Which oftheir strengths so you strive to emulate in your own work?

Kristyn:  Rick Walton is a Utah Children's Book Author who is one of my heroes.  He has not only been a mentor to me in my writing, but also has connected the Utah writing community in such a way that we are ALL able to mentor, cheerlead, befriend, and serve each other.  Writing is a lonely, solitary profession.  Rick was able to link all of us together and unite us in great causes.  For example, the Writing for Charity Event which takes place this coming March 17th.  Over 25 Utah authors will be in attendance to give manuscript advice to aspiring writers.  The proceeds will put books in the hands of underprivileged children! 

Gamila: The brevity of text in the picture book requires unique storytelling skills. What process did you take to learn this art?

Kristyn:  It took me a long time to learn how to do this.When I first tried to break into the picture book market Iwanted to write lovely sentences on a flat page that told a story from start to finish.I wanted to describe the scenery and characters in detail.This was my comfort zone--the kind of writing I'd learned in high school and college.I hoped to absorb the reader in my well-crafted prose and sweep him or her away in the scenes I was describing.I imagined that an illustrator would later read my text and paint the things I'd written--blue skies, yellow daffodils, and freckle-faced kids-- just as I described them.   I envisioned the illustrator as someone who decorated my words, not as a partner in the storytelling.  I had a lot to learn.
To "undo" this thinking I had to dissect picture books and see how they functioned.  I had to change my thinking from 2-D to 3-D.  And I had to learn to leave room for the illustrator to do some of the storytelling.  It's hard to do this.   Especially because the pictures aren't there yet.   You have to imagine what the pictures will likely show and then pare back the text to go along with the imaginary art. 


Gamila: what is the most rewarding thing about being a picture book author? What is the most discouraging?

Kristyn:  The most rewarding thing is seeing a child respond positively to one of my books.  I do assemblies where I bring 75 instruments.  Watching that many kids play along with the refrain of BEDTIME AT THE SWAMP, wiggling their hips, is pure joy. 


And the most discouraging thing is the waiting.  Waiting to hear back from agents and editors can take weeks, even months, even many months.  That's hard. 

Gamila: Your picture books often imitate and incorporate therhythm of strong music traditions like Jazz or Blues. What originally lead youto experiment with this and do you have plans to adapt more of your picturebook prose to imitate other musical genres?
Author:  What's interesting is that I do write picture books that aren't in rhyme, but those haven't sold for me yet.  I have a great love for music and lived in New York City for a time.  I loved hearing the musicians playing on the street and wafting out of the little bars on the corner.  Those beats and sounds flow out from my writing because they make me so happy.

Gamila:  Before we endtell us about your most current writing project or most recent release.

Kristyn:  This July, SKELETON CAT (Scholastic) will be released.  I'm thrilled with this book.  It's rhythmic and fun...full of bright, neon colors and the whimsical art of Dan Krall, who illustrated BEING A PIG IS NICE: A Childs-Eye View of Manners, and wrote/illustrated ABSOLUTELY BEASTLY CHILDREN, a hilarious alphabet book.  Honestly, I can't wait for people to see what he's done with SKELETON CAT.    It's coming out in paperback which I'm excited about because the book will be affordable for everyone.  I hate seeing those kids with pouty faces at the book fairs, who can't afford to buy a book.

Gamila: Thanks for the interview! I am totally going to check out Skeleton Cat.

Julie Berry: An Interview

Secondhand Charm is your second book to be published by Bloomsbury. I find that each published book seems to have a behind-the-scenes scenes saga behind it. Are there any interesting or memorable stories about the creation of Secondhand Charm?

I’m afraid the process was sadly pedestrian. It looked like me gazing bleary-eyed at my laptop, scribbling in a single-subject notebook, and foraging for snacks. As for the initial inspiration, that was just lots of me driving back and forth to work in my minivan, musing. How about this? How about that? Charms. Good luck charms. Love charms. They’re kinda neat. Wonder if I could create a story that involved charms …

I often find that fantasy authors like to base the worlds in their novels off of time periods and countries that correspond to history. Were the details of your fantasy world based off of any particular time-period or country? The story seemed very 1800’s to me.

I used the 1780s as my target time period. I made sure that all the details of my world, and all the words used, existed in that decade. That window of time just appealed to me – the dress customs, travel, weaponry, cultural norms. They feel right at home. Perhaps I was a teenager there in a past life. (I’d better make it clear that I’m joking …)

In the book Evie discovers that she has a magical connection to a sea serpent, and that she really likes the ocean. Was Evie’s story inspired by particular love of the sea on your part or were there other sources for inspiration for the project?

I didn’t grow up near the ocean, and I’m not someone who spends loads of time at the sea. I sunburn just by thinking about sitting outside, I worry about my kids drowning, and I’m terrified of things in the water that can eat me. I think I’m more in love with the idea of the sea, with the creative landscape of it. Imaginatively, the sea is a place I love to be, from my childhood dreams of swimming with dolphins, to a later fascination with marine biology. I’d happily watch Discovery Channel programming about oceanic life for days on end if I had the time. Such power, such vastness, such a different world where things can navigate in three dimensions instead of two. The ocean with all her moods captivates me.

I must ask. Will there a sequel in the works for Secondhand Charm? If not, what project do you plan to work on next?

I confess, I never envisioned a sequel to Evie’s story. Other advance readers have asked me that question too, so it has me wondering. After finishing the story, I’ll ask you -- do you think there’s room for one?

Well without trying to be too spoilery I thought that where the villains ended up at the end of the book could lead to Evie having to face them again, and hence my curiosity about the sequel.

What is your favorite and least favorite part in the creation of a book?
Least favorite part: lack of sleep, and how my house disintegrates around me. It’s bad. Favorite part: the writing. And the revising. Right now I’m savoring the responses bloggers and reviewers have shared.

I wonder how many writers are a bit crazy like I am. As I write, I’m torn between loving what’s appearing on the page, and feeling certain it’s worthless drivel. Finally I throw up my hands in despair, proofread, and hand it over to my editor to let her deal with it. So every time I hear that someone has read Secondhand Charm and loved it, I’m thrilled, of course, but also a little bit astonished.

I noticed that you have started a series called The Splurch Academy for Disruptive Boys. Can you tell us a little bit about this series? Are they middle grade novels or graphic novels?

Yes, and yes! Splurch Academy for Disruptive Boys is a collaboration with my sister, Sally Faye Gardner, the illustrator. It’s the story of Cody Mack, fifth grader and expert troublemaker, whose parents and principal send him to a boarding school of last resort to try to fix his bad behavior: Splurch Academy, where eminent behaviorist Dr. Archibald Farley promises to reform Cody for good. Dr. Farley turns out to be a mad scientist vampire, and the faculty, a pack of shape-shifting kid-eating fiends. No one ever escapes alive. (This feels a lot like junior high to me.) Cody and his friends have to stay alert and crafty to save their skins from Farley’s sinister schemes, the first of which involves plungering boy brains out through ear canals and swapping them with the brains of trained rats. Good wholesome entertainment for reluctant readers everywhere. ;)

The series, which currently has four titles in the works, is a mix of early middle grade chapter book and graphic novel. It feels very “comic book,” but there’s lots of novel for kids to read as well. I know that many current series have played with different ways of integrating text, illustrations, and comic panels, but I think the recipe we’ve concocted with Splurch Academy is unique, and lots of fun. It’s a love note to my four disruptive sons, whom I holler at more than I should. I hope it’ll raise my stock value in their eyes. Series titles so far: THE RAT BRAIN FIASCO, CURSE OF THE BIZARRO BEETLE, THE COLOSSAL FOSSIL FREAKOUT, and THE TROUBLE WITH SQUIDS.

We’ll, end with one last random question. What is your favorite thing about fall?
Sweaters! And apple crisp. I make a mean apple crisp, and an even meaner apple pie, when I can find the time. But now that I’ve hit my metabolism-squelching mid-thirties, sweaters may be the only innocent fall pleasure left to me.

Thanks for the inverview. It was fun! Secondhand Charm has been out in the stores for several weeks now. I hope some of you readers will take a chance to pick it up this fall season.

Author Interview with Kathi Oram Peterson

Welcome Kathi to Gamila’s Review, and thanks for agreeing to do an interview with me. Today I’ll be asking questions about your newest release The Forgotten Warrior and your interest in writing history for younger audiences.

First off, tell us about your newest release The Forgotten Warrior.

Sydney Morgan, a sixteen-year-old girl with a black belt in karate touches a mysterious stone that transports her through time to Captain Helaman and the stripling warriors. He calls on Syd to help prepare his warrior sons for battle. Syd is desperate to find her way home, gain Helaman's respect and keep from falling in love with Tarik, a stripling warrior. I loved writing this book! My son, who has a black belt, helped me with the karate scenes. It was so much fun trying to think of different ways Syd could take down an opponent. And, of course, I loved the friction and romance between Tarik and Syd.

Did writing The Forgotten Warrior take a lot of scriptural research? If so what was the most rewarding part of that research?

Yes it did take a lot. But what better resource to have than the Book of Mormon. I have a deep respect and love for Helaman and the stripling warriors. One day as I prepared to write a scene in my book I wanted Helaman to give an inspiring speech to his warriors. I prayed and asked for guidance. As I read and re-read Helaman's writings the scene unfolded and seemed to write itself. I don't know if Helaman ever spoke to the boys as I had him do in my book, but I strongly felt the love and respect he had for them from his words in the Book of Mormon. The reward has been knowing that this book is a wonderful gift from the Lord.

Why did you decide to make your main character female when she was among the two thousand stripling warriors? Why not write from a young boy’s point-of-view?

Well...I did. The book is told in two view points: Sydney Morgan's and Tarik's, a stripling warrior. But the bulk of the story comes from Sydney. I wanted young women to realize if given a task such as the stripling warriors, they, too, could rise to the call.

The Forgotten Warrior is targeted towards a Youth Audience. What attracts you the most to writing for Young Adults?

I've written many books in several genres, but there's something about the young adult market that is a good fit for me. Maybe I've just never grown up, and I hope I never do. I'm constantly surprised to find that The Forgotten Warrior has fans that are not only young adults, but mothers and fathers, and grandmas and grandpas. This is not to say I won't write in other genres, but I'm very comfortable with young adult.

On your website you mention that you have written several non-fiction historical books targeted towards children. Will/can you tell us more about these projects and your plans for them?

I wrote two nonfiction children's activity books: The Kid's Book of World War One and They Came from Around the World: A Nation of Immigrants. Both books were written for Silverleaf Press, but unfortunately the economy forced the publisher to push back release dates. I have no idea when they will come out. But I learned a great deal while writing those books. I gained appreciate for the freedom we enjoy in America and for the service men who gave their lives for us.

How did your interest in writing history for young children develop, and do you plan to continue writing non-fiction?

This was something that chose me. I was asked to write these books because I had written concept and biography books for a curriculm publisher years ago and also because the editor was familar with my writing. Under the right circumstances, I'd be happy to write more non-fiction.

When working on any project that requires historical or scriptural research which part of the process do you enjoy more, the research or writing aspect? Why?

I love both! I can't have one without the other. And I do them both at the same time. I know too many writers who become bogged down in research and their stories flounder. So I like to start with an idea for a story. Come up with characters, then I set them in a scene. All is very fluid as I do research. I might find my main character would work better in the story being a wanna-be singer, than a nurse. I might decide placing the hero in a villa than having him on a farm opens more opportunities for the character...all because of research. Once I come up with the beginning and ending of my story and I'm happy with the setting, then the writing and research kicks in full gear. As characters grow and the plot thickens more research is needed. Can't have one without the other, at least in my case that's how a story grows.

How has a your love for reading influenced your career as a writer?

I read the usual childhood classics, and even worked off and on with writing books as I read Mary Stewart and Nora Lofts, but my real desire to become a serious writer came when I read Mary Higgins Clark's book Where Are the Children. I was riveted from page one. And I so wanted to write like her. I tried writing several romantic suspense books, even won some awards, yet something was lacking. I decided to refocus and started reading a lot of young adult novels. I found I really enjoyed the freedom in this genre and started writing YA books...and the rest is history..

What books have you read recently or as a child that you would recommend to our blog readers today? Espeically, if they enjoyed The Forgotten Warrior and want something else to read that is similar.

I avoid reading books similar to mine (Book of Mormon time travels) to keep my writing fresh, but your readers might want to try Chris Heimerdinger's Tennis Shoes Among the Nephites series. If you are looking for young adult books, check out the library's list of Newberry Medal winners. Other authors I enjoy are Karen Hesse, Shannon Hale, Jessica Day George, James Dashner, and J. Scott Savage.

Tell us about the next book you having coming out after The Forgotten Warrior, and any other exciting projects we should know about.

This fall I have a Christmas book titled An Angel on Main Street due to be released in October. It's a story set in the 1950s about an eleven-year-old boy named Micah Conners. His father was killed in the Korean war and he, his mother and sick little sister have just moved into a new town. A nativity begins to appear in the center of town and no one knows who is building it. His little sister believes when the baby Jesus arrives He will make her better. Micah fears his sister doesn't have that much time, so he makes it his quest to find the nativity builder and bring the Jesus doll to her. This is a story that I've worked on for many years. I'd sent it out, receive rejections, look at the comments and work on the book some more. I guess I finally got it right!As for book two of The Forgotten Warrior it has been written and its fate rests in the hands of my publisher. I'm keeping my fingers crossed. I'd really like my fans to see how Syd and Tarik's story is resolved.

Kathi's Website: http://www.kathiorampeterson.com/

Kathi's blog:http://www.kathiswritingnook.com/

J. Scott Savage Interview

Hey Scott! Welcome to Gamila's Review. Today we are floating down the Avon river in an English canal boat.

Avon huh? We’re not going to meet with a bunch of women who will do our colors and sell us hand lotion in poodle-shaped bottles?

Were going to moor at Stratford-Upon-Avon. After visiting Shakespeare's house and enjoying the swans in front of the Royal Shakespearian Theater we're ready to cast off from Stratford and head through that creepy tunnel up at the top of the page.

Ahh, Shakespeare. Very cool. You have to like swans. They are the ultimate in cool animals. They should all be wearing sunglasses. They are just that cool.

All seems pristine and lovely heading towards the tunnel, but soon we will enter an ancient arch, damp and dark, made out of millions of rust red bricks. On the right we will see a wooden rail drilled into the brick with chain linked underneath where old barges on the river would take pull themselves through by hand. It's lovely that we have the luxury of a modern motor and can therefore discuss Farworld: Water Keep at our leisure. While we float through our creepy, English tunnel full of fog, I'll ask you a few questions.

Okay, so you’re not going to like kill me and dump my body overboard are you? Because you don’t want to deal with those Scotland Yard guys. They may look like Charly Chaplin, but they’re tough.

How do you like the setting of our lovely interview today?

Excellent. Very dark and moody. It gives the whole interview a certain gravitas. (Which should not be confused with the annual gravy toss, which is not nearly as serious but much more messy.)

Do long dark tunnels full of fog make you think of fantasy, mystery or horror stories since you seem to write them all?

Actually horror is just a sub-genre of fantasy. When I think horror, I don’t think of Texas Chainsaw, I think of supernatural beings with special powers. And when I think of fantasy, there is always a dark element lurking in the background just waiting to spring out.

Which writers that have influenced your writing the most?

I am a sponge when it comes to influence. Reading just fills me up with great ideas. You see something in one context and it opens a pathway to another idea.

How long does it take you to write a book? Specifically how long did you work on Farworld?

Less than three months to write the first draft. The story had been in my head for several years, but once I started writing it came incredibly fast.

How many drafts did Farworld go through?

Ten easy.

Where did you come up with all the names for Farworld places, creatures and people? I found the names to be interesting and clever.

I like to play with names and sounds until I find one I like. Some names, like the Unmakers, Mist Steed, and Mimicker, are names that sound like what they are. Some names are nods to other books or movies. Some are plays on words. Look up the name of the frog that leads Kyja and Marcus to Olden. One thing I try to avoid is having a lot of unpronounceable names like Lady Grkzhn, because you know readers will just skip over it and call her G.

What is the language that master Therapass and the Dark Circle use when they cast spells?

Two different languages. MT is calling upon the elements to do his bidding willingly. The DC corrupts the elements. It is taking them by force. It is the language of desecration. Like bring back the dead, it is an abhorrence on the land.

What scene was your favorite to write?

I really liked the Unmaker’s cavern. Creepy, fun, and tense.


That was my favorite scene! Cool! What is your favorite part of writing and the least favorite?

Royalties and the months in between royalties. No. That is NOT true. I don’t want anyone to think that writing comes down to the money, because there are a lot easier and surer ways to earn a buck. I love when I write a really powerful scene. It’s a great feeling to “know” that readers are going to love it. My least favorite is when the story just won’t come. Or when you have a great but you can’t seem to get it onto paper.

Tell us about your upcoming releases. I'm especially curious about this LDS Horror novel you've talked about on your blog. When is that coming out?

I’ve actually had to put things on hold a little because of Farworld. Shandra should be Spring. After that, we’ll see.

What was the last LDS or Young Adult novel that you read? Would you recommend it to our readers?

The last YA book I read was The Bartimaeus Trilogy. I would definitely recommend it. Last LDS was Season of Sacrifice, about the Apple Dumpling Gang. Okay, it was really about the Hole in the Rock gang. And they didn’t really even call themselves that. But I would recommend it too.


Ah, looks like we've made it through the tunnel. I'm glad to feel sunshine on the face again. Thanks for joining us on our canal trip today!

Thanks for having me. It was fun and I didn’t even die. I’m so . . . hey wait. Where’s my wallet? Come back here!

Author Interview: Rebecca Talley

Hi Rebecca! Welcome to Gamila's Review and thanks for inverviewing with me today.

When did you start writing and discovered that you enjoyed it?

I wrote stories as a kid, but it was when I took a creative writing class in high school that I realized how much I loved to write. I discovered how much I enjoyed creating characters and worlds in Mrs. Hawkins' class.

What inspired you to write Heaven Scent?

I wanted to create a story that explored the connection between heaven and earth. I lost both of my parents at an early age and have felt their presence through the years. I wanted to a write a story that would leave readers with the hope that those we've loved and lost are never far from us.

Which scene in the book was your favorite to write?

That's a hard question. I enjoyed writing the scenes between Liza and Kyle and I really enjoyed the opening scene because I wanted to be that kind of basketball player. I think my favorite scenes to write, though, were the ones when Liza communicates with her mom.

What did you learn from the process of writing Heaven Scent?

Writing a novel is hard work. It takes time, effort, dedication, and a very thick skin. I also learned to trust myself to stay true to the story in my heart.

What other books have you published? What books do you plan to publish in the future?

"Grasshopper Pie" was publshed in 2003 by WindRiver Publishing. It's a children's picture book based on an experience when my kids "almost" fed me a live grasshopper. I'm currently working on an LDS romance that I hope will be accepted for publication and I have a children's chapter book I'm submitting to publishers.

With a large and busy family where do you squeeze your writing time in?

Anywhere I can! I just squish it in whenever and wherever I can.

Is it easier to finish other writing projects now that Heaven Scent is out or harder?

Now that I've completed "Heaven Scent" I know I can actually finish a large project, but I still struggle to find time to finish projects. I have so many ideas and so little time! I'm also finding that I need to spend time promoting my book so that cuts into my writing time. Scheduling time in my daytimer to work on specific projects helps me stay on task. Thank you so much for inviting me to your blog. I really appreciate it.

Thanks for hosting the blog tour. I really enjoyed reading your book!

Author Interview: Candace Salima

Welcome to Gamila's Review Candace! I recently finished Refiner's Fire and want to ask you a few questions about it.

First off, how did this compilation of essays come about?

Thank you so much for the invitation to drop by. Forged in the Refiner’s Fire came about in a rather simple way. My co-author, Elizabeth Cheever, contacted me and asked if I would be interested in compiling this book with her. I was very busy at the time, but it was a project that drew me. Each of goes through difficult times in life and we wanted to create a book which would provide inspiration, hope and a feeling of camaraderie in boosting people’s belief in themselves.

What was the most rewarding aspect of completing a project like Forged in the Refiner's Fire?

When we began to receive feedback from readers across the world is when we truly began to understand the power and scope of the book we’d put together. Personally, when I received an email telling me how it had helped a woman to truly understand that each of us goes through these trials and it is not because we were bad or sinned, but simply because. It gave her the strength to pull her shoulders back and simply say, “I can do this. I will do this.” Nothing could have meant more to me than that.

What important messages do you feel Forged in the Refiner's Fire contains for readers?

Hope. Pure, unadulterated hope. For myself, as I read through the many stories which poured in, I began to understand that everyone, literally every single person on the earth, goes through the Refiner’s Fire. We want our readers to understand that they were never meant to traverse this thorny mortal path alone. Jesus Christ, our Savior and Redeemer, stands ready and waiting to assist us on this journey. There is hope in that pure truth. Unbeatable, attainable hope.

Do you plan to compile another project similar to this in the future?

Yes, Elizabeth are working on the sequel called “No Pressure, No Diamonds.” We are currently accepting real life stories of struggle and tragedy which show growth in the person submitting the story. We wish to know what helped you to get through it and how you drew closer to God in the process. Anyone interested in submitting a story please email me at ces@candacesalima.com.

From your website I can see that you worked on a non-fiction, title, book about BYU sports and published a fiction novel Out of the Shadows. What are your future plans for other writing projects?

I am currently working on “Standing on the Fifth: The Long Road” with Merrill Osmond. He and I are very excited about the work coming forward. It is an action/suspense geared toward the national market, and yes, it is fiction. I am also working on “Dreams Die Hard” the long awaited sequel to “Out of the Shadows . . Into the Light”. My readers will be very grateful, they’ve clamoring for it for quite some time now.

More information about me can be found at http://candacesalima.blogspot.com/ and my books can be purchased at www.candacesalima.com/inPrint.htm.

Thank you so much for hosting me today, Emily. I drop back by today, off and on, to answer any and all questions that may be posted by your readers.

Thanks for Interviewing with me, Candace! Here is an video of another interview with candace. Enjoy!