The Teen Phenom, Kieryn Nicolas!
Readers:
Meet Kieryn Nicolas, a teen writing prodigy (my opinion) that just hit the scene with her first novel, Rain. In just a few months, she's captured the attention of many with her upbeat attitude and commitment to the craft. This evening, I have the opportunity to host her in my Language Arts and Literacy graduate class. She'll speak to my students (pre-service teachers) about what teaching practices motivated, and continue to motivate her, as a writer.
Fortunately for you, she also agreed to an interview on my blogs. Check out her work. You won't be disappointed!
How long have you been writing, and what inspired you to begin seriously devoting yourself to the craft of writing?
I think I’ve been writing ever since I could write—and that does not necessarily mean I could spell. I have a journal from when I was four, and my first recorded story, from what I can decode, reads: "Laura wus pritty and nice it wus 12:00 at night Laura hred a strang naus. it wus bumping and sloshing and skraching. She did not know wut it wus. so she went out side and thar wus a Baer. She kickd the baer and pushed Him into the woods. the end"
Talk about climaxes.
I was in fifth grade, though, when I decided I wanted to be an author. I had an amazing teacher that year, and we actually did creative writing. That’s probably when I realized how much I loved writing long stories—aka, novels.
How do youlive your life like a writer? What day-to-day habits must you incorporateinto your routine?
Every day I have two emails and two Facebooks to check—my personal ones, and my author ones. I also have to remember to Tweet and do any other social media. Also, I always have something with me that I can record ideas on, whether that something is my phone or a notebook or the note app on my iPod. (I used that app a lot on the bus this year.) Pretty much I make sure that I stay in touch with my professional/author communications, and also the author in my head, who usually gets ideas at the least convenient times.
Who are someof the authors you lean on most for inspiration and craft when you get stuck inyour own writing?
That’s an interesting question. Reading books that I like usually does motivate me to write my own stories. For example, J.K. Rowling is the queen of characters. Everyone in the Harry Potter series is incredibly real, and her writing makes me want to write my characters to life. Suzanne Collins—author of The Hunger Games and the Underland Chronicles—writes incredible action scenes, so when I read her books I want to make my own stories more exciting. I recently read the 1-800-WHERE-R-YOU series by Meg Cabot, and it had an incredible voice. Guess what I’ll be focusing on next time I write?
In youropinion, how important is the link between avid reading and strong writing?
I think the link is fairly important. I’m not saying someone who isn’t an avid reader can’t be an incredible writer, or vice-versa, but personally I attribute a lot of my strength in writing to the countless hours I’ve spent reading. Story ideas have always bounced around my head, and seeing how authors brought their stories to life helped me figure out how to put mine in words as well.
What’s thefunniest/craziest/strangest story you have so far from your writing escapades?
I’m not sure this is the funniest/craziest/strangest, but I got a friend request from someone from Indiana a few weeks ago. Thinking it might be someone I met at the Lit Fest, I clicked on his profile, and did a double-take when I saw I was in his profile picture. Yeah, it was the picture he’d taken of us when I signed a book for him! That was a pretty cool experience.
What can youtell us about your current projects?
I’m currently working on a dystopian story that I absolutely love—but I’m really bad at summaries, so I’ll just leave it there for now. Also, I’ll have a “short” (I use quotes because myversion of “short” always contrasts with other people’s version of “short,”like my English teachers who insist on page limits and nonsense like that) story coming as an eBook from Echelon in the near future. It’s called Poison Ivy, and I wrote it as a response to To Kill a Mockingbird last year in English. We had our choice of projects, so long as we incorporated a theme from the book. I asked my teacher if I could do a story, and she said sure, as long as it was “reasonably short.” Of course, I used my own interpretation of “reasonably.”
Where can wego to learn more about you?
My amazing and tech-savvy grandma designed my website, www.kierynnicolas.com. On there are links to buy my book, a page with links to media about RAIN and myself, the prologue/first chapter of my book, a short bio, reviews of RAIN, and links to my social media pages (like Facebook and Goodreads). Also, I (usually) update my blog, www.kierynnicolas.blogspot.com,at least once a week. Well, I try to.
~Scott
"Live, Learn, Teach"
www.scotthbooks.com
MDTLC on Hold
Readers:
I have some sad and disappointing news to report. Mice Don’t Taste Like Chicken, originally slated for release in August 2010, will not see release as planned. I’ll bite my tongue about the why and simply tell you that I now have the rights to the manuscript again and will begin shopping it around with agents. And, while Drew might go King Kong over something like this, I must pick up my head and commit myself. Mice Don’t Taste Like Chicken deserves a home in the hands of readers, and I’m set on making that happen.
I appreciate all the support everyone has given Mice Don’t Taste Like Chicken to this point. Please continue to follow the MDTLC blog for details on the new search.
~Scott
“Live, Learn, Teach”
www.micedonttastelikechicken.com
In My Bath- An Interview with Beth Reinke
Sorry to disappoint!How long haveyou been writing, and what inspired you to begin seriously devoting yourself tothe craft of writing?
I remember writing my thesis ingrad school and desperately wanting to write something else, something FUN.That’s when I knew for sure I wanted to be a writer. When my sons were babiesand toddlers, I enrolled in courses from The Institute of Children’s Literatureand learned everything I could about the craft. I started writing andsubmitting seriously when my younger son started second grade.
How do youlive your life like a writer? What day-to-day habits must you incorporateinto your routine?
Writing is my job, so most mornings I head straight to my computer to getstarted. I use two strategies to keeping organized – making lists and keeping acalendar by my desk. I write lists of things I need to do, from writing thankyou notes to mailing book orders to researching article topics. Without thelists, I would forget things, that’s for sure! My calendar has big squares so Ican write multiple entries for each day. For instance, on today’s date I wrote,“interview on Scott’s blog.” J
As any work-from-home mom will tell you, multitasking is a necessaryhabit, too. I fit in other tasks while writing - putting dinner in the crockpot, grooming the dog, doing laundry. Luckily, the laundry room is close to mycomputer so I can hear the dryer buzzer – LOL.
Who are someof the authors you lean on most for inspiration and craft when you get stuck inyour own writing?
Forinspiration, I read anything by Kathi Macias http://www.kathimacias.com/ who writes powerful novels as well as women’s nonfiction books. Rightnow I’m reading No Greater Love, thefirst book in her Extreme Devotion series. For inspiration and craft, I likewriter Kristi Holl’s blog at http://writers-first-aid.blogspot.com/
In youropinion, how important is the link between avid reading and strong writing?
Just about every writer will tell you that reading and writing gohand-in-hand, especially for those of us who love to work with words. I writearticles for magazines and find it helpful to analyze nonfiction. But when Itry to study the writing in a novel, but I usually end up lost in the story andforget to analyze it! Peeking into someone else’s life in fiction is so muchfun. J
What can youtell us about your current projects?
I'm working on two children's book manuscripts right now. One is a follow up to In My Bath. The other is an ABC book, which is new territory for me. I'm busy keeping up with my new website and blogs, too.
Where can we go to learn more about you?
Readers can visit me at http://www.bethbencereinke.com. My website contains a bio, links to food andnutrition articles I’ve written and two blogs. My “Food & Faith” blogcontains nutrition tips and healthy recipes. To read children’s book reviews,check out “Beth’s Book Basket.”
To learn about my illustrator, Ginger Nelson, please visit http://www.gingernielson.com. She does the bestestwork!
CONTEST!
Any tub adventure needs rubber duckies! Beth has graciously offered a set of five, squirting rubber duckies to the contest winner. Just reply, in the Comments section of this blog, with the answer to the question to register. A winner will be selected at random on July 5.
Question: What is the title of Beth's next book (listed as "Coming Soon" on her website)?
~Scott
"Live, Learn, Teach"
www.scotthbooks.com
Interview with Carla Mooney, author of Owen and the Dragon
How long have
you been writing, and what inspired you to begin seriously devoting yourself to
the craft of writing?
I’ve been writing since I was a child, but as an adult had moved away
from writing fiction and concentrated more on business writing. Then about 3 ½
years ago, my son developed leukemia and I quit my accounting consulting job to
take care of him. It was during that time that I decided to turn back to
something that I loved – writing, specifically writing for children.
How do you
live your life like a writer? What day-to-day habits must you incorporate
into your routine?
I am an early morning person, so I usually get the bulk of my writing
done between 5 and 7 am, sometimes earlier if I have a deadline fast
approaching. If I can sneak in another hour or two to write when my son is at
preschool, that’s great. The rest of the day, I try to take care of emails,
sending out proposals or packets. If I’m not falling asleep on my pillow, I try
to read at night after the kids go to bed – either something that I’m
researching or a new YA or MG book that I’ve heard about.
Who are some
of the authors you lean on most for inspiration and craft when you get stuck in
your own writing?
I usually have
a few projects going at the same time. So if I get stuck on one, I tend to
switch gears and take a break from it. Sometimes taking time away can help give
me perspective on what isn’t working. Recently, I’ve been having a plot problem
in one of my books. Reading the Hunger Games books by Suzanne Collins has been
especially inspiring. As I read them, I was just amazed at how she built such a
gripping plot with turns and twists throughout the books.
In your
opinion, how important is the link between avid reading and strong writing?
I think it is extremely important. Even when I read a book that I don’t like or don’t connect with, I try to think about what specifically turned me off. Was the plot too slow? Was it too wordy? If it was a picture book, was it too clunky to read aloud? Looking at the book through the eyes of a reader helps me evaluate my own work in the same way.
What can you
tell us about your current projects?
I’m working on a new book about
the Explorers of the New World that should take me most of the summer to
complete. I’ll be developing a bunch of projects for this book, so I’ve already
warned my kids and their friends to get ready around the kitchen table!
I’m also very excited about my
first picture book, Samson’s Story, coming out with Earth Day Publishing this
fall. It’s the story of a boy with leukemia told through the eyes of his dog. He
has feelings that anyone who has loved a person with a serious illness can
relate to. Given my personal connection to this topic, I’m thrilled that a
portion of the proceeds will be going to cancer related charities.
Where can we
go to learn more about you?
There are lots of places! My website is www.carlamooney.com
You can also follow me on my blog at http://carlamooney.livejournal.com/
or on Twitter as Carlawrites.
~Scott
"Live, Learn, Teach"
www.scotthbooks.com
Young Reader's Rave Review
Highlights of Query Boot Camp w/ Janet Reid
A Billion for a Billion Campaign
Ho, Ho, Holy Cow!
Slip out of bed,
tipity-toe.
Clock signals three.
Door opens slow.
Rustles I hear,
wrapping paper perhaps?
Santa’s come I am certain,
while the family naps.
Slink down the stairs,
grip on the rail,
stub my big toe,
stifle a wail.
Peer in gap between wall
and thin wooden slat.
Sure enough someone’s there,
all jolly and fat.
My fists clench in joy,
at his round silhouette.
His hands arrange gifts.
How many’d I get?
He bends over once more,
takes one step back,
and that’s when I see it--
a Santa butt-crack.
His red underwear
is distinctively clear.
I think this confusing,
puzzling, and queer.
Then lifting his leg,
he let’s loose flatulence,
which he wafts with his hand.
The most putrid of scents.
Who is this imposter,
this phony, this fraud?
My mouth it hangs open,
rounded and broad.
Santa lays the last gift
beneath our fake tree.
He turns his whole body,
and now faces me.
To learn Santa’s fake
is traumatic enough
without partial nudity,
bodily functions, and stuff.
But to learn of no Claus
at age six is so sad
when the red-underweared, farter
‘neath the tree is your Dad.
~Scott
"Live, Learn, Teach"
www.micedonttastelikechicken.com
If You Give A Mouse Some Milk
Interview with Laurie Zieber- Robin Falls Kids- 11-23-09