This post is just to say thank you to everyone who visited my blog yesterday to read my interview with Donna. I appreciate all the lovely comments left by those who chose to leave comments.
I will have a new interview up on friday the 30th October. Details to follow.
Welcome to my first Author interview. I’m hoping this is the first of many to come. Thank you to Donna McDine for being my "guinea pig" for this project.
Please read through the interview, and feel free to leave any questions you have for Donna. She will be popping in throughout the day to answer questions.
Terrie: Please tell us a few things about yourself.
Donna: I am a wife, mother, and writer. Married for 20 years and raising now 14 and 11 year old daughters certainly has its roller coaster moments. Fortunate enough to work from home the last 11 years, first as an administrative assistant and since January 2010 as the Marketing Manager at Stories for Children Magazine, I cherish the moments I’m available for my girls, especially when they come home from school.
Terrie: Why and when did you start writing?
Donna: I first came across the Institute of Children’s aptitude test in 2006 and longing for something more fulfilling for a career I took the plunge, completed the test and mailed it in. I graduated in 2007 and haven’t looked back since. My first publishing credit was July 2007 with Stories for Children Magazine. Needless to say having VS Grenier offer me the marketing manager position definitely brought my writing career full circle.
Terrie: What genre do you like writing the most, and why?
Donna: At the beginning of my writing career I felt I wanted to write for the young adult, but my research and ideas lead me to the early reader and middle grade range. I’ve finally finished the first draft of my historical fiction manuscript and now I must get my editor hat on and begin the next task in accomplishing a finished manuscript for submission.
Terrie: What is your best age group to write for?
Donna: Hmm. This is hard to say. This may sound like I’m avoiding the question, but it depends what topic I’m brainstorming on. For example, for several of my non-fiction articles I originally envisioned them for the 12 plus range and after research and staying within the word count guidelines I find myself writing more in the 5-8 year old range.
Terrie: Is there any particular reason for this?
Donna: I believe this is the age range I’m most comfortable with.
Terrie: Thinking of books you've read, which one stands out, and why?
Donna: This is a tough one. I’ve read so many books over the years it truly is hard to pick one. So I’m going to name a few:
Victory by Susan Cooper. The author seamlessly transports the reader back and forth from current and past eras and you almost forget you are reading about two different main characters.
The Rock of Realm by Lea Schizas. I have never been one to pickup and enjoy a fantasy novel, but with the superb writing talent of Schizas I found myself mesmerized from the onset.
Caves, Cannons, and Crinolines by Beverly Stowe McClure. I’ve always been fascinated by history and McClure expertly brings you into this fascinating era. You can practically hear the echo of the cannons from within the caves, and the rustling of the crinoline skirts. Now that’s great writing.
Terrie: Is there another writer that you have aspired to be like, or have you always enjoyed your own unique writing style and methods?
Well, November is rapidly approaching, and so is NaNoWriMo - or maybe better known to some as National Novel Writers Month. Its the month we all go crazy, and our keyboards don't know what has hit them.
I did NaNo for the first time last year. I really thought I was mad - 50,000 words in 30 days. You have to be totally crazy to write 50,000 in one month, right? Well, not altogether. Look at NaNo as fun. I hear that maniacal laughter.
Believe me, it is fun. Its also hard work. But just think of the end result. You could be sitting with the first draft for a long thought up novel by the time you pull yourself away from the computer at midnight on the 30th november. On the otherhand, you could be sitting with a load of trash, that is only fit for the shredder, or the delete button.
But whatever the end result, you can look back on the month with a smile on your face, knowing that you have put all of 50,000 or more or less words on the computer. Give yourself a pat on the back, walk away from the computer, and give your life back to your family.
Now what about cleaning, meals, drinks and all the other things that go with family life? Well, the better half will just have to take your place. Afterall, it is only 30 days, {maniacal laughter again}. The rest of the family will just have to fend for themselves. You will probably look like you haven't slept in days, your eyes will be square from looking at the computer screen, and you and your keyboard will be the greatest of buddies - you'll wonder how you managed without it at your fingertips until now.
And, once you've stocked the freezer with ready meals, filled the water bottles, done all the other preparation needed to get going on NaNo, you will be wondering when you are going to edit your masterpiece. Well, wonder no more. Just send that inner editor on a 30 day vacation. Throw him or her out and lock the door. There is no need to do any editing for the whole 30 days. That comes later.
And once you've finished NaNo, what are you going to do? Well, if you are lucky enough to be on the ICL Writers Retreat {biased here}, you will have your fellow NaNoers to share with. There will no doubt be a post NaNo thread where you can get over your no more NaNo blues.
Now, lastly, for those new NaNoers. If you are worried, don't be. You are amongst over 100,000 other people writing those, ummm, words in 30 days. We are all in it together. You are not alone. And you will look back at the end of the month, and see your achievements.
Roll on November,and let's have some fun.
CONTACT: Terrie Hope, Children’s Author
Email: [email protected]
Blog: http://tbhope.blogspot.com/
For Immediate Release
Guest Author, Donna McDine at Terrie Hope’s Write What Your Heart Desires
Terrie Hope explores the written word through your heart desires at http://tbhope.blogspot.com/. Come along with Terrie on her weekly chats such as “This Business Called Writing” and interviews of professionals in the trenches of writing for children.
Stop by Friday, October 23rd and visit with Terrie’s guest author, Donna McDine. Donna will be checking-in throughout the day to chat and field any questions you may have.
Thank you in advance for your interest.
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