1. When and why did you start writing? As a child my mother would retell old Appalachian folktales to her six children. With such rhythm and cadence the characters came to life. The tradition carried on to her grandchildren. I realized my own children were enjoying these stories as much as I did. I knew it was time to write them down so they could be enjoyed by future generations of children.
2. Where do your ideas come from? When my children were young I kept a journal of funny questions they would ask or funny things that would happen to them; or even serious situations that would arise. Telling bedtime stories when my children were young was a time to reconnect, laugh and be silly. Sometimes I would make up stories which they always loved. Now I’m a grandmother and my young grandson Vince has started a new generation of inspiration.
3. What was your favorite book growing up? We didn’t have many books growing up. We used the bookmobile mostly. We did have a copy of a collection of Grimm’s fairytales that I really loved. Other than the folktales that my mother would recite from memory, Charlotte’s Web and Stuart Little were some of my favorites.
4. Do you have a favorite author? For children’s books there are two; Patricia Polacco and Bill Peet. They are the best storytellers and Illustrators in my opinion. Their stories are longer than most children authors, but that is what my children loved.
5. What was your childhood like? I grew up in a small three bedroom house in Falls Church, VA. I am the youngest of six children; four girls and two boys. Needless to say my mother was always busy, but she made time at night to read us bedtime stories. Being the youngest of six had many ups and downs. My youngest brother was a prankster so I was usually his “Crash Test Dummy”. This will probably be the subject of a book in the near future.
6. What projects are you working on now? I'm currently trying to get my re-telling of two of my mother's Appalachian Folktales (with a few new twists) published. Second, I'm working on a picture book inspired by my grandson. Third, I'm working on a board book for toddlers. Finally, I am leading a new critique group for picture book writers. We're having fun and all learning from each other.
2. Where do your ideas come from? When my children were young I kept a journal of funny questions they would ask or funny things that would happen to them; or even serious situations that would arise. Telling bedtime stories when my children were young was a time to reconnect, laugh and be silly. Sometimes I would make up stories which they always loved. Now I’m a grandmother and my young grandson Vince has started a new generation of inspiration.
3. What was your favorite book growing up? We didn’t have many books growing up. We used the bookmobile mostly. We did have a copy of a collection of Grimm’s fairytales that I really loved. Other than the folktales that my mother would recite from memory, Charlotte’s Web and Stuart Little were some of my favorites.
4. Do you have a favorite author? For children’s books there are two; Patricia Polacco and Bill Peet. They are the best storytellers and Illustrators in my opinion. Their stories are longer than most children authors, but that is what my children loved.
5. What was your childhood like? I grew up in a small three bedroom house in Falls Church, VA. I am the youngest of six children; four girls and two boys. Needless to say my mother was always busy, but she made time at night to read us bedtime stories. Being the youngest of six had many ups and downs. My youngest brother was a prankster so I was usually his “Crash Test Dummy”. This will probably be the subject of a book in the near future.
6. What projects are you working on now? I'm currently trying to get my re-telling of two of my mother's Appalachian Folktales (with a few new twists) published. Second, I'm working on a picture book inspired by my grandson. Third, I'm working on a board book for toddlers. Finally, I am leading a new critique group for picture book writers. We're having fun and all learning from each other.