sallymurphy.com.au

Sally Murphy, Australian author

Seven Answers to Seven Questions: Ransom Noble Blogtour 2

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Ransom Noble drops in today for her second visit to my blog. This time, Ransom is answering my seven questions. thanks for coming, Ransom.

1. Tell us a little about your publication credits.

My first novel is about to be published, The Art of Science. My first short story was published last year, “Qui’s Contract” available in an anthology called Ruins Metropolis.
The genres I prefer to write are speculative fiction and young adult, separately or together. I am currently working on a novel that combines them, where dreams are not what they seem. Also, I have a short story, “Burning Bright,” pending for another anthology from the same publisher as Ruins Metropolis called Footprints.

2. How long have you been writing for children?


I write where my inspiration leads. The Art of Science is the first project I did specifically geared for a younger audience, and I completed the rough draft about six years ago.

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?


Oh, that is a good question. I ought to keep better tabs on it, but time often gets away from me. I am currently at home focusing on writing, and my husband finds it quite difficult to drag me away from the computer sometimes. I’m spending less time writing, and more on revising, promotion, and research lately.

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

Right now I’m reading Hooked, which is about writing. Specifically it focuses on the best way to open a story or novel, but it also covers a big picture concept of projects.

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

When I was about a year old but still under two, my mother and a friend of hers were walking in the mall with me. I asked, “Mom, is that a statue or a mannequin?” Mom tells me her friend was flabbergasted that I knew those words at such a young age. It might have been the writer in me showing from an early age or my mother’s own talent for writing and passing on her love of words, but she always taught me the proper words when she could. My advice to other writers is to always consider word choice. I don’t mean writing at the same level for adults as for children, but don’t be afraid to use a word here or there to expand the vocabulary for your readers. Often they learn words from use in context, and the more they run into words the more they’ll understand them.

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

I have heard that SCBWI is the best online resource for children’s writers. I plan to join soon! http://www.scbwi.org/

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

http://ransomnoble.wordpress.com/
I also have a facebook page as an author. I have 20 fans! We all start somewhere, right?

I have done author readings and plan to do more with my upcoming novel. I will be visiting schools and bookstores as well as promoting online with a blog tour and trying to get reviews.

Thanks for sharing your answers Ransom. Good luck with the forthcoming book.

If YOU would like to be featured here with your seven answers to my questions, drop me a line.

Off On Tour

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I’m excited! To celebrate the launch of my chapter book, The Big Blowie, I am off on a blog tour for the next five days. You can follow the tour by visiting the following blogs:

Sunday, February 8, at Dee Scribe Writing Blog http://www.deescribewriting.wordpress.com/
Monday, February 9, at Let’s Have Words – http://www.letshavewords.blogspot.com/
Tuesday, February 10, at Robyn Opie’s Writing Children’s Books – http://www.robynopie.blogspot.com/
Wednesday, February 11 at Spinning Pearls http://www.spinningpearls.blogspot.com/
Thursday, 12 February at The Book Chook, http://thebookchook.blogspot.com/

These five ladies have really been keeping me on my toes with the tricky questions they are posing. I’ll be talking about the book, how it came to be written, my life as an author, promotion, big blowflies, a real life encounter with a huntsman spider and much, much more!

See you there.

Seven Answers to Seven Questions: The Fairy Lady

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Today, the Fairy Lady, Bobbie Hinman, has fluttered in to share her seven answers to my seven questions. thanks for coming, Bobbie.

1. Tell us a little about your publication credits.

I am the author of two children’s picture books, The Knot Fairy and The Sock Fairy. These books reveal the answers to two of life’s major mysteries: How did my hair get so tangled while I was sleeping? And Where IS that missing sock? After all, who better to blame it on than a fairy? The two books have won a combined total of eleven children’s book awards. Coming in April is the third book in the series, The Belly Button Fairy. I don’t want to give away the plot, however, have you ever wondered why everyone’s belly button is exactly in the middle?

2. How long have you been writing for children?

My first children’s book was released in 2007. Before that, I authored seven cookbooks. I do love children’s books more because no one ever asked me to read one of my cookbooks to them.

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

When I’m working on a new book, as I am now, I work on it one to two hours a day. My books are all in rhyme and after about an hour, my brain stops rhyming and goes to sleep. As far as promotion, I work about four hours a day. This includes, but is definitely not limited to, contacting schools and libraries for visits, creating and mailing flyers to prospective clients and making contacts via the internet. I also make time for one to two events or appearances each week For me the writing is much easier than the promotion.

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

About once each week I visit my local bookstore or library, purchase a very large cup of coffee and read the new books on the shelf. In addition, I read upper elementary chapter books with my grandchildren. I just finished reading the Twilight series by Stephanie Meyer at the urging of one granddaughters. I am now reading The Secret of Bailey’s Chase by Marlis Day with another of my grandchildren. In addition, I still manage to find time to read “grown up” books. I just finished a wonderful book – The Little Giant of Aberdeen County by Tiffany Baker.

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

First, be sure you know the reading level of your target audience and know the age of the children you are writing for. This may sound too obvious, however I have met several authors who, when asked what the age level is for their book, don’t have an answer. Second, find a group of children in your targeted age group and create your own focus group. Third, read the book to them and listen to what they have to say. This may be painful, however it is crucial. Finally, make the book the very best you can and don’t let it go out into the world until it is ready.

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

My favorite resource is other writers. I am finding that following their blogs is a great way for me to keep up with other writers’ thoughts and insights. These blogs offer a wonderful resource for information and advice. I have been contacted by other children’s writers through my blog, as well as through Facebook, Goodreads and Twitter. This has given me the opportunity to interact with them and share ideas. I am always eager and willing to share my thoughts and resources.

7. Do you have a website or blog? What else do you do to promote yourpublished works and/or your writing skills?
I do have a blog – http://bobbiehinman.blogspot.com – and a website – http://bestfairybooks.com. In addition, I exhibit my books at major book fairs and have been a guest presenter at many of these events. I also attend fairy festivals, art fairs and toy fairs. I host fairy events at bookstores and have even hosted a Fairy Ball for children. In each city that I visit, I try to schedule several school and library visits. At these events I give away postcards, bookmarks and information about my presentations. I use my colorful postcards as business cards and hand them out freely wherever I go.

Thanks so much for your answers, Bobbie.

If YOU would like to be featured here and answer my seven questions, drop me a line.

Blog Visits

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I’m having an author visit at the Enjoy the Journey blog this week. If you want to learn more about me, drop by and have a read.
And next week, I’m off on a blog tour, visiting five blogs in five days to talk about The Big Blowie, so watch this space for further details.

Seven Answers to seven Questions: Micah Linton

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Today Micah Linton drops by to share his answers to my seven questions. Thanks for coming, Micah.

1. Tell us a little about your publication credits.

Weebeasts Plight is published by Greenleaf Book Group, March 2009. Previous books include Weebeasts Origins published March 2008 by Beast Stew and Weebeastology a collection of artwork from the series published October 2008 also by Beast Stew. Currently I am working on Weebeasts Quest, the next book in the series with a 2010 release date in mind.

2. How long have you been writing for children?

Writing stories in one form or another for fourteen years; first creating scripts and story branches for video games and now for the past two years writing books.

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?


For the most part I try and concentrate on the creative aspect of writing and illustrating during the day and leave an hour or two in the evening or early morning to catch up on the computer. Typically I would say about 60 hours of creative work and 10 hours of related business tasks per week.

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

My daughter is still very young so the books I am reading right now are pop up peek a boo books. Otherwise I go to various libraries several times to stock up on children’s books, graphic novels and audio books which I enjoy listening to when I draw and paint.

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

Create what you would have enjoyed to read as a child.

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

http://www.scbwi.org/ or Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators, a member section that is updated frequently and helpful blogs for both local and events abroad.

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

Yes, Weebeasts website can be found at http://www.weebeasts.com/ and I do also keep blogs for new Weebeast events http://beaststew-weebeasts.blogspot.com/ and for new artwork at http://beaststew.blogspot.com/
Other ways I promote the Weebeasts is to attend festival and conventions as well as arrange book signings at bookstores, libraries, and schools.

Thanks for visiting, Micah.

If YOU would like to be featured here, and share your answers to my seven questions, drop me a line.

sallymurphy.com.au