sallymurphy.com.au

Sally Murphy, Australian author

Seven Answers to Seven Questions: Sophie Masson

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Today multi-published, multi-talented children’s author Sophie Masson drops in to share her seven asnwers to my seven questions. Welcome Sophie.

1. Tell us a little about your publication credits.

I’ve had nearly 50 books published–all novels, except for a book of essays
and short stories(and another one of my essay collections will be out next
year.) Most of my novels are for children and young adults, especially YA,
but I’ve also had a number of adult novels published. Many of them have been
published overseas as well as in Australia. I’ve also had many short
stories, articles, essays and reviews published in newspapers, magazines,
anthologies and online.


My latest novel was The Case of the Diamond Shadow(ABC Books, 2008).
Forthcoming is The Madman of Venice(Hodder children’s Books, June 2009. This
book is also appearing in the UK in April 2009, and in the USA in march
2010).

2. How long have you been writing for children?


For quite a while! I wrote my first children’s story, a picture book text
called Valerie behind the Bottlebrush(about a rag doll who gets forgotten
when a family moves home), in 1979, when I was 20. My younger sister
Gabrielle, who’s a really good artist, illustrated it with paintings and pen
wash drawings. I still have it! My first children’s story was published in
1987 in the School Magazine, the wonderful NSW children’s magazine that has
launched the career of so many children’s authors. In 1988 a story of mine,
It Only Happens Once, was published in After Dark, an anthology of stories
edited by Gillian Rubinstein for Omnibus Books. And in June 1990, my first
children’s novel, Fire in the Sky, was published by Angus and
Robertson–only three months after my first adult novel, The House in the
Rainforest, had come out with UQP!
3. How much time do you spend each week writing and/or revising? And how
much time on other writing-related tasks such as promotion, researching
markets and so on?

Most weeks, I usually spend four days a week writing/revising. The rest of
the time I do sociable and family things but part of that time might well
include research etc. And of course you never really stop the thinking about
it, no matter what! there are times when I do more of the nonwriting stuff,
like talks, workshops etc, more,and there are times too when other things in
life take over, but that’s the general pattern of it.

4. How much time do you spend reading children’s books? And what are you
reading right now?

I read a mixture of both children’s and adult books. For instance, I’ve just
reread Down in the Cellar, by Nicholas Stuart Gray(an author I love but who
is sadly neglected these days)as well as finished Stephenie Meyer’s
Twilight, plus I’ve been reading a Dick Francis racing thriller as well!

5. What advice would you give other would-be children’s writers, or share
with other professional children’s writers?


Be persistent, patient, and polite. Believe in what you’re doing, but don’t
be precious about your work. Be flexible, open-minded and never listen to
lazy cliches like ”kids are different these days”, but equally keep your
ears and eyes open for the reality of children’s lives today.

6. What is your favourite online resource for children’s writers? Why?


I regularly consult two UK children’s literature sites, www.writeaway.org.uk
and www.achuka.co.uk These are excellent resources and very interesting for
what’s going on in the children’s book world there(I publish in UK too) but
also encompass other places and have great links . I also read reviews on
various Australian sites, such as Aussiereviews.com and the YARA
site(http://goldcreek.act.edu.au/yara) , which features reviews written by
kids themselves, and consult the Inside a dog site too
occasionally.(www.insideadog.com.au) and for industry news, views, gen and
gossip, I subscribe to Jackie Hosking’s excellent email newsletter, Pass it
On, of course!

7. Do you have a website or blog? What else do you do to promote your
published works and/or your writing skills?


I have a number of different things going: a basic website at
http://users.nsw.chariot.net.au/~smasson , a site about two of my series–a
Shakespearean series and the El Jisal series at
http://sophievmasson.googlepages.com two blogs, one on the Thomas trew
series, www.thomastrew.blogspot.com and one of The case of the Diamond
Shadow, www.caseofthediamondshadow.blogspot.com I also have a You Tube
channel, www.youtube.com/sophievmasson onto which I’ve uploaded author talks
and book trailers. I also blog once a month on the group blog, Writer
Unboxed, www.writerunboxed.com
Thanks for dropping by, Sophie. If YOU would like to be featured here, drop me a line at sally @ sallymurphy.net (remove the spaces).

Seven Answers to Seven Questions: Brenton Cullen

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Today young author Brenton Cullen joins us to share his answers to my seven questions. Welcome Brenton.

1. Tell us a little about your publication credits. If you have none, tell us about the genres you prefer to write, and your current projects.

Well, I have had stories published in magazines and an anthology that will be released next week. I have also published two books, a children’s one, and a non-fiction one. Recently I have completed a fantasy novel manuscript for ages 9-12 and that is with a publisher who has expressed some interest in it. Currently, I am planning two more books in a series, the fantasy novel being the first book, and working on an unrelated manuscript, as well.

2. How long have you been writing for children?

Since 2002. I have written fifty four manuscripts (plays, poems, stories included) but only two have been published!

3. How much time do you spend each week writing and/or revising? And how much time on other writing-related tasks such as promotion, researching markets and so on?

Well, as I am on school holidays, I am writing nearly every single day, averaging approximately two-three hours a day. But while I am at school, I do it in the afternoons for about an hour, and pretty much the same on weekends. Revising for me, usually comes at the end of a manuscript so it depends when I finish that specific book.
I am about to start research for a book Mess in the Middle Ages, so that will have to be squeezed in somewhere!

4. How much time do you spend reading children’s books? And what are you reading right now?

To answer your first question, ALL THE TIME!! Right now, I am re-reading Von Gobstopper’s Arcade by Alexandra Adornetto, and am about to start on Money Run by Jack Heath.

5. What advice would you give other would-be children’s writers, or share with other professional children’s writers?

New writers, get advice from publishers and author, and get a writing mentor. I cannot give advice to experienced writers: it’s like telling JK Rowling how to write Harry Potter!

6. What is your favourite online resource for children’s writers? Why?

I don’t really follow those online resources. But I do read magazines like Writing QLD and Reading Time, which are not online, because they are very interesting and helpful.

7. Do you have a website or blog? What else do you do to promote your published works and/or your writing skills?

My blog is at www.bjcullen.blogspot.com
I send around notices to magazines or newspapers asking if I could write a column and my first publishing venture was a column in my local newspaper. Promoting my published works is with bookmarks, book signings, etc, etc.

Thanks for joining us, Brenton. If YOU would like to be featured here, drop me a line and I’ll ask you my seven questions.

Seven Answers to Seven Questions: Karen Ventrice

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Today’s visting author is Karen Ventrice, come to share her seven answers to my seven questions. Welcome Karen.

1. Tell us a little about your publication credits. If you have none, tell
us about the genres you prefer to write, and your current projects.

I have a children’s bedtime picture book, Day’s End Lullaby
available through
online retailers,such as Amazon. I also have a number of articles on Ezinearticles.com and
just signed up with Helium, another ezine site.
As far as current projects, I am working on two children’s fantasy chapter books
and two picture books. In addition I have entered the freelance arena. I am
writing children’s nonfiction, fiction and rebus articles.

2. How long have you been writing for children?

I’ve been writing for children for a few years now, but only within the last
year began to think of it as a career. I created a family lullaby
over
30 years ago for my children and about a year ago my daughter decided
we should turn it into a children’s bedtime story. This brought me onto the
path of actually going about getting my work published.

3. How much time do you spend each week writing and/or revising? And how
much time on other writing-related tasks such as promotion, researching
markets and so on?

Unfortunately, lately I haven’t been spending much time actually writing and revising.
Between Virtual Book Tours, my critique group, other online groups, and emails the time
just seems to slip away. And, since October I have been working on the promotion of
my book. Along with research for articles, and trying to learn as much as I can about
writing I seem to be spinning my wheels. I have said this so often that I am tired of
hearing myself say it, but I need to create a time management plan and stick to it as
much as possible.

4. How much time do you spend reading children’s books? And what are you
reading right now?
I don’t spend nearly as much time as I should on reading children’s books.
But, I’m working on changing that. I took 3 books out of the library
last week: Folktales & Fables of The Middle East And Africa; Folktales
& Fables of The Americas & The Pacific; Great American Folklore.
And, I recently finished A Single Shard which I absolutely loved.

5. What advice would you give other would-be children’s writers, or share
with other professional children’s writers?

I’m not in the business long enough to give advice to professional
children’s writers, but to would-be children’s writers I would say
learn the business. This means:
1. Attend whatever free teleseminars you can find about writing for children.
2. Read as much as you can about writing for children.
3. Read as many children’s books
as you can so you can see what’s
getting published and why.
4. Attend writer’s conferences – there are a couple of free ones online that are
great. One in particular is The Muse Online Conference.
5. Join a critique group.
6. If you can afford it join a writing coaching club. The one I belong
to is Suzanne Lieurance’s Children’s Writers Coaching Club.
7. Join the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators.

6. What is your favourite online resource for children’s writers? Why?

My favorite resource is Children’s Writers Coaching Club. I have learned
so much through this club. I know this is going to sound like a plug,
but it’s the truth, for a nominal fee you get teleseminars/telecasts
about writing for children, promotion and marketing. You also get critiques
of your work and guidance along with a little nudging.

7. Do you have a website or blog? What else do you do to promote
your
published works and/or your writing skills?

My blog is: http://karenandrobyn.blogspot.com
My website is: http://www.childrensbooksbykarenandrobyn.com

To promote my book I created the yahoo group Virtual Book Tours. We are
a group of traditionally published and self-published authors who help
one another through virtual book tours and other promotional strategies.
I have also talked to my local librarian about having them carry my book and
I contacted my local paper and they did a 3/4 page article about the book.

In regard to my freelance writing, I publish articles through ezines and submit
articles to mainstream magazines and newspapers. I also use my blog as a tool to promote
myself. Along with this I attend a number of free online telecasts focusing on
marketing and promotion. One of the sites that offers this is
Authors Marketing Experts.

Thanks for joining us, Karen. If YOU would like to be featured here, drop me a line and I’ll sned you the seven questions.

Seven Answers to Seven Questions: Rhonda Fisher

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Today we are joined by Rhonda Fisher, who ahs come to answer my seven questions. thanks for joining us, Rhonda.

1. Tell us a little about your publication credits. If you have none, tell us about the genres you prefer to write, and your current projects.

Other than approximately nine hundred newspaper articles, I have no formal publication credits. I prefer to write poetry of many varieties, but the rhymes for children are my favorite.

2. How long have you been writing for children?

Most of my life, in one form or another, though up until now, it was for my children and students primarily.

3. How much time do you spend each week writing and/or revising? And how much time on other writing-related tasks such as promotion, researching markets and so on?

Presently, we are just a month away from release of Randy Kazandy, Where Are Your Glasses, so except for the time I spend teaching piano in the evenings, nearly every waking minute is filled with something to do with Randy Kazandy.

4. How much time do you spend reading children’s books? And what are you reading right now?
I don’t spend a lot of time reading children’s books now, but have read hundreds of them, many just since beginning this new career as a children’s writer. In the few spare moments I have to read for pleasure, I read Orphan Josie and Lightning, or Trouble Starts, Pane Follows, by my good friends David and Linda Broughton. I can’t wait for his next book in the Ash Pane series, Royal Pane Down Under, set in Australia.

5. What advice would you give other would-be children’s writers, or share with other professional children’s writers?

Don’t do what everyone else is doing, unless they’re having great success. To market a children’s book, you have to get them in front of both the children and more importantly the parents that buy them. Bookstores are not well suited for this task, so you must seek alternative marketing techniques.

6. What is your favourite online resource for children’s writers? Why?

I use the SCBWI site a lot, or the IBPA site, since they are associations of professionals in the field. There advice is usually sound, but remember to think out of the box, don’t march to the beat of someone else’s drum.

7. Do you have a website or blog? What else do you do to promote your published works and/or your writing skills?

Yes, though not completed entirely, the website is up, randykazandy.com. We’re doing so many promotional things, the list is too long to tell you about in this format. One of the main things I’m doing is going to schools with an oversize Randy Kazandy book, and teaching them the jingle my friend and I came up with. I also use my musical skills to promote my work at every opportunity. We also do the normal things like press releases, since we believe in leaving no stone unturned. We’re doing placemats for restaurants with a coloring page of Randy Kazandy, and many other things. Promote, promote, promote.

Thanks for joining us, Rhonda.

If YOU would like to be featured here, drop me a line at sally @ sallymurphy.net (delete the spaces), and I’lls end you the questions.

Seven Answers to Seven Questions: Christine Harris

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Today’s guest is Christine Harris, who has nicely agreed to answer my seven questions. Enjoy her answers.
1. Tell us a little about your publication credits. If you have none, tell us about the genres you prefer to write, and your current projects.


I’ve written about 50 books over the last 20 years, so it’s probably easier to follow the following links

Book cover pics: http://www.christineharris.com/Books.aspx

Short biog and list of writing associated activities: http://www.christineharris.com/AboutMe/Info.aspx

FAQs: http://www.christineharris.com/AboutMe/FAQ.aspx

Awards: http://www.christineharris.com/AboutMe/Awards.aspx

2. How long have you been writing for children?


My first book ‘Outer Face’ was published 1992, but of course the writing of it took place for several years before this.

3. How much time do you spend each week writing and/or revising? And how much time on other writing-related tasks such as promotion, researching markets and so on?


I am a full time professional writer – so usual work hours, plus a few sleepless nights and early mornings. And I sometimes wonder if writers are ever truly ‘off duty’. Whatever we see starts thought processes that lead to stories or scenes in books. Most writers, including myself, carry notebooks and jot ideas down on anything that doesn’t move – including serviettes and backs of envelopes.

I try to keep promotions to evenings or weekends, but sometimes I blitz – spend a week or two. When I was revamping my website, I spent a month or more, straight, working on it. A writer must spend some time on promotions if they are serious about being professional. But the balance between promo and writing new material is easily upset. So I think setting limits is important. Each of us works best according to our own personality.

4. How much time do you spend reading children’s books? And what are you reading right now?


Depends. If I am deep into writing a novel or having trouble with a section of it, I won’t read anything that changes my style.

I also blitz read (I sound like a real ‘blitzer’, don’t I?). I go to the library and borrow a bag full and read them all, take notes, if I am after something in particular. I find now, after years of reading young adult and kidlit, that I am often impatient with slow, wordy novels for adults.
Currently, I am reading Stephenie Meyer’s ‘Eclipse’ in the Twilight series. Mostly because kids keep asking me if I have read it or know about it and it helps me to be able to converse with them. While I don’t try to be or act like a child, I work in the world of children, so it does help to be in touch with what they are interested in. But, at the same time I am reading a book for adults by Tony Horwitz about following in the footsteps of Captain Cook, and a book on How to Write Mystery Books. I read all sorts of material. There are books in every room of the house. And I mean EVERY.

5. What advice would you give other would-be children’s writers, or share with other professional children’s writers?

Write.

And this is not as silly as it sounds. We spend so much time planning, thinking and talking about writing that we don’t actually start.
I believe we learn by doing.

6. What is your favourite online resource for children’s writers? Why?


All. Any. Lots.
Seriously. I pick up hints on what to do and what not to do in many places. Read all you can and keep a notebook or computer file of the best tips. I don’t usually seek out children’s writing sites, but I do read a lot of online info about writing. No matter who is the target reader, the skills are pretty much the same.
Jurgen Wolff’s Time to Write blog has pithy, helpful entries http://www.timetowrite.blogs.com/

7. Do you have a website or blog? What else do you do to promote your published works and/or your writing skills?

I have three blogs. The most relevent here is Writers Bitz
http://www.writers-bitz.blogspot.com/


I try to add articles here of things that might interest, entertain or inform writers, and I add material that reflects what I am currently being asked about.

What else do I do to promote my work?
My goodness, that would require a whole essay. And what I am doing this week will be different to what I choose to do next week. What doesn’t work gets dropped and new ideas are added.
My best advice here would be to constantly add to a personal data base of ideas for promotions. We can only make this sort of thing effective when we are doing things that we are comfortable with. Some writers are shy, others are exhibitionist – so always look out for ideas, choose those that you are comfortable with, then write down your plan and slot in time to actually do it. A promotions plan, to me, is fluid, constantly changing, like the sea.
But generally, the areas I think about are”
online/technological; website, blogs, articles, email signatures …
paper handouts, including a professional looking business card, list of published books etc
personal appearances
competitions and giveaways (usually for young writers)…
When I was a kid I used to write lists then add … to infinity …
So, that’s the best way to continue this list
…to infinity…

Seven Answers to Seven Questions: Lindsay Cripps

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We have another visitor today. Lindsay cripps has dropped in to share his answers to my seven questions. Enjoy!
1. Tell us a little about your publication credits. If you have none, tell us about the genres you prefer to write, and your current projects.

So far, my only publication is a junior fiction novel, The Mystery of the Ruby Glasses. However, I’ve recently completed an adult novel which I’m hoping will be published. It’s a Speculative murder mystery (if that makes sense)and involves a disgruntled detective and his teenage nephew who get caught up in a virtual reality computer game searching for a serial killer.
A mysterious gypsy youth from the 1700’s leads them on a quest to solve the ongoing murders. I’m also trying to start a new junior fiction novel but my Uni teaching commitments keep me very busy so it’s been very frustrating not being able to get some words on paper. I love the Fantasy Quest genre and Mystery Adventure. My interest lies more in the junior fiction and Youth Adult area.

2. How long have you been writing for children?

I’ve loved writing children’s stories since I was quite young (yes, even I was young once). This was developed when I started my Arts Degree at USC. I wrote The Mystery of the Ruby Glasses as my Honours thesis and luckily, it was picked up by Lothian Books shortly after. Since then, I’ve toyed with the idea of writing a sequel but may begin something totally new.

3. How much time do you spend each week writing and/or revising? And how much time on other writing-related tasks such as promotion, researching markets and so on?

I don’t spend anything like the time I’d wish writing but do spend a lot of time thinking of plots. I also research what is currently popular in Children’s and Y/A fiction and teaching creative writing at Uni means that I need to do this anyway. I enjoy attending writing festivals such as Voices on the Coast and will probably be at the Ipswich Writer’s Festival this year. Checking what is on the shelves in bookshops helps to give a broad idea of what children and youth are reading and checking publisher’s websites is also time well spent. My own website is another way of staying in touch with my readers though I must admit, I don’t update it as often as I’d like.

4. How much time do you spend reading children’s books? And what are you reading right now?

I spend as much time as I can reading both children’s and Y/A books. I also love reading non-fiction mysteries which give me ideas for plots. I lecture in Children’s and Y/A fiction at Uni, so I’ve done a lot of reading of both classic and contemporary children’s stories. I also lecture on the Children’s illustrated book which I find incredibly interesting. At the moment I’m reading a Y/A novel, Taronga by Victor Kelleher.

5. What advice would you give other would-be children’s writers, or share with other professional children’s writers?

Try to find something really unique to write about. Make it breathtakingly interesting and start the action right up front. Don’t be too preachy and follow the rule, ‘show don’t tell’. Let the reader do some of the work and don’t fill in all the dots. I think it’s important that writers tackle issues that are not always pleasant to digest but may be what some children experience every day of their lives. Also, remember that we have all been children so think about what it was like for you. Draw on life experience; it’s far more credible to your plot. A course in creative writing can help to hone your skills but in the end, it’s your imagination and attention to detail that will carry you through.

6. What is your favourite online resource for children’s writers? Why?

To be honest, I don’t use any one site but surf everywhere. I go to Publishers’ sites and other authors’ sites and anywhere that looks interesting. I read stories on-line and save ‘handy hints’ from those who’ve had interesting experiences. Be careful not to be influenced by sites that preach rigid structure in fiction writing; after all, it’s writing about what you love or interests you that makes a good story for others to read.

7. Do you have a website or blog? What else do you do to promote your published works and/or your writing skills?

I do have a website that is still in its infancy: http://www.lindsaycripps.com/ I promise to add things often but I must admit, I can be slack. I’ve put some info on it about The Mystery of the Ruby Glasses and I love getting comments or questions on the site. I reply to all those I receive. I’m using The Mystery of the Ruby Glasses as a novel in a writing course at USC this year so I hope it will be interesting for students to get a first-hand account of how it came to be written and some of the pitfalls of publishing.

Finally, the best of luck with your creations. I hope to be reading them soon.

Thanks so much for sharing your experiences with us, Lindsay
If YOU are a children’s writer, of any level of experience, and would like to be interviewed here, feel free to drop me a line at sally @ sallymurphy.net (remove the spaces) and I will send you the questions.
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