At the moment I have 8 picture books published – all in rhyme.
My 7 book series of fun, educational picture books, about animals from the US and Australia, are with WritersExchange e-Publishing of Australia. You gave me very nice reviews for a couple of them – remember?
Kangaroo Clues, Never Say BOO to a Frilly (3 stories), Don’t Eat Platyus Stew (3 stories), Mama Grizzly Bear, Prairie Dog’s Play Day (3 stories), Humdinger Hummers and Squirrels Can’t Help Being Nuts (3 stories). Details about all 7 illustrators can be found on my website’s Books page.
All are available as autographed CDs through my website, or as downloads from Reader’s Eden, Fictionwise, and many other places.
I do school visits for these books with a hoboe hat, complete with corks, my swag on a pole over my shoulder, and a billy for tea. I arrive singing Waltzing Matilda – that sure gets their attention. I also use a PowerPoint presentation for class fun and lessons for the older grades.
“Rattlesnake Jam” – illustrated by award winner Kevin Scott Collier, Guardian Angel Publishing (G.A.P). Reluctant reader friendly! Autographed soft cover copies from my website, or from Amazon, and many other places. Downloads from Fictionwise, G.A.P, and other sites.
I also have a PowerPoint presentation for Rattlesnake Jam, + my green stripy 4ft toy rattlesnake, and a jar of yucky green rattler jam – straight from Gran’s Kitchen. NOTE: Check this out on my website!
And in the first half of 2009, .I have 2 new PBs being published by G.A.P. Both in rhyme. “Ruthie and the Hippo’s Fat Behind – Ruthie’s parents moving their family far from familiar places and friends, and the bad effect this has on Ruthie.
Horatio Humble Beats the Big D” – A smart young boy, is unable to read well, and when he hears the word Dyslexia, he just knows that special classes will make him look dumb.
I also have several midgrade manuscripts out trying to earn their keep. Two Aussie outback adventures for boys, a ghost mystery, and a family saga, with letters back and forth between a grandma and a grandson.
Website: http://www.margotfinke.com/ This has links to my 2 BOOK pages
2. How long have you been writing for children?
I have always scribbled stories, but didn’t get really serious until my youngest went to college, about 12 years ago. I bought a computer, joined the online Children’s Writers List (CW) and the SCBWI. I went to lots of writing conferences, and networked online so as to absorb the wonderful writing wisdom that flowed there.
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 find that promotion and writing vie for my time every day. If you are not careful, the promoting of your books can take over your life. Publishers are not much help – even the large ones have time and money only for the famous on their lists. Once a blook is published, all your time is taken up with writing and polishing various Press Releases, and then trying to tee up, or follow up, on School visits, library readings, and book store signings. All this involves differently worded letters, Press Releases, e-mails or phone calls. Promote or Perish has real meaning!!
Then, there’s the endless research to find new places that might buy or sell your book. I suggest begining some of these chores as soon as you know the publication date. Then put aside at least 6 months after the book is launched for serious promotional work – forget
You mention revising. I can’t stress the importance of doing this. It adds that tight polished feel that editors love. Nothing beats a good crit group for this. One that has some advanced or published members who will help you revise and fine tune your writing.
I spend every afternoon ( and sometimes sneak mornings as well) either writing, researching publishers, or in some form of promotional activity. Break for dinner, and quit at around 8 pm at night: to spend time with my husband, or he might forget he had a wife!
4. How much time do you spend reading children’s books? And what are you reading right now?
Not as much as I should. But I am no chicken, and all the books I have read and absorbed in past years stand me in good stead. At the moment I am reading The Magic Violin by Mayra Calvani. A great story with delightful illustrations.
5. What advice would you give other would-be children’s writers, or share with other professional children’s writers?
That writing for kids is one of the hardest things a writer can tackle. And like anything else, you need to learn the craft before you are going to be any good at it. So many new writers think thay can rattle off a PB in a few days, and be published in a few months – I wish! Take a writing class. If necessary, these days you can do this online at midnight, in your jammies.
Read piles of children’s books. This will give you a feel for sentence structure, tight plots, and great characters.
Here are the tools everyone needs to write wonderful children’s books:
A basic knowledge of grammar and punctuation – some talent – a pile of patience – hard work – an ability to stick with it through flurries of rejection letters – and LUCK. Having the right story, in the right place, at the right time, is a huge plus.
6. What is your favourite online resource for children’s writers? Why?
One of the best resources is Jacket Flap http://www.jacketflap.com/index.asp >
Part social network, part great publisher, book and author finding resource, it is simple and easy to use, the information is great, and no silly stuff that wastes time.
Another is The Purple Crayon http://underdown.org/index.html> Designed and run by well known editor Harold Underdown, it covers most things a newcomer or an old hand at writing needs to know: great articles, advice, writing wisdom, + updates about publishing.
My “Musings”column is hosted on this site.
7. Do you have a website or blog? What else do you do to promote your published works and/or your writing skills?
In today’s world, a writer without a blog and a website is without a way to promote themselves and their books – dead! My website, Margot Finke’s World of Writing for Children, is the repository for all my books, my basic writing help for beginners and others, and my Manuscript Critique Service.
My Blog is a kind of StopPress way of getting out FAST new information about my books, my writing services, and even the odd rant from me. Blogs are no good unless you learn how to send them out to earn their keep. This means learning about Feedburner, RSS feeds, and how to PING. And keep the new posts coming – something new to fuel reader interest at least once a week. COOL or HOT headers will hook reader interest. Bland doesn’t do it, mates.