Authoring Onward

Hello again!

It’s been a busy weekend at the Dowell house with kid #1’s 4th birthday, which meant lots of icing and sprinkles.

I’ve also been busy working on a lot of new stuff. And the Book Echoes podcast now has a newsletter. If you’d like to get news about the podcast, tips for writers, and–coming soon (as in it’s in edits right now) an exclusive guide to handselling  your books at festivals and conventions, then head over to this page and sign up!

Today on the show, I talk to children’s author and author educator Laurie Wright. She talks about the inspiration behind her first picture book I Can Handle It, her path to publishing, and helping other writers on that path.  Scroll on down and have a listen.

About Laurie:

As a parent, I know it can be a challenge finding the right time and words to coach our children when they deal with the ups and downs of life. I hope to make it easier and less stressful to build emotional intelligence in children.

Find more from Laurie at https://lauriewrighter.com/

And be sure to check out her free course about deciding if your book idea is any good: Sucky or Stupendous

I’m back from my break and hard at work on the final details of Writing Without Childcare which is launching very soon! I’m also thoroughly enjoying my weekly three hour break from 24/7 parenting now both kids have a morning of preschool overlap. Much more writing in the future.

This week, I have an interview with police officer and author Patrick O’Donnell about his new book Cops and Writers, the first in a series of books for writers on how to write realistically about policework and crime, a handy listen if you write crime fiction or if your work features crime or police officers in some way. Scroll on down and have a listen.

About Patrick, from his website:

My name is Patrick O’Donnell, and I’ve been with a large metropolitan police department for the last twenty-four years, seventeen of those as a street sergeant. That means I’ve been a supervisor on the street for the bulk of my career. The city I work in has a population of about 600,000 people who are policed by about 1,800 sworn members, give or take a few hundred.

I’m also an author of fiction and non-fiction books. I do understand the unique author point of view and can see through your writer’s eyes.

Find more from Patrick at copsandwriters.com

 

In our last episode before my kids go back to school–and I take a one week break from podcasting–I talk to the first illustrator to come on the show, Elizabeth Savanella. In the interview, she talks about becoming an illustrator, working with authors and publishers, and so much more. Scroll on down to have a listen!

Just a reminder, no podcast episode next week. I’m taking Labor Day week off to work on Writing without Childcare, implementing the promotion plans I’ve made since my reader survey, and getting the kids used to preschool. Until next time!

About Elizabeth

Lizzie is a classically trained illustrator who’s love of traditional art media translates into textural and painterly digital illustrations for kids and kids at heart. Lizzie loves animals, tea, podcasts, dry humor, spicy ginger ale, and the music of the 1940s.

Find more from her at her website.

 

Hi, folks! We’ve got internet at our house finally! Now uploading podcast episodes is so much more convenient.

This time on the podcast, I’m sharing some lessons learned from my last book launch and my recent reader survey. Have a listen to see what I did right, what I did wrong and what unexpected things I learned about my fiction audience and see what lessons you can take from that to make your own book launches and writing business better.

Next week I’ll be back with another author interview, then a week off on the week of Labor Day and after that three episodes in September. I’ve always wanted this to be a weekly show, eventually, but taking it from biweekly to weekly means doubling production, so there will be a few weird months of three weeks on, one week off while I transition to a weekly schedule.

 

Hello! Uploading yet again from a coffee shop…but internet is coming to our house soon I hope! It’s been a busy time unpacking boxes and trying to find places for everything while writing without childcare on a book called Writing without Childcare. I’ve also just done my first reader survey of my newsletter and I learned a lot which I’ll roll into next week’s episode about lessons learned from the last book launch.

Today I’ve got an interview with Suzanne Jacobs Lipshaw about her picture book I Campaigned for Ice Cream about ice cream and taking civic action which was inspired by the true story of her son’s campaign to change a local law and allow ice cream trucks to operate in his town. It’s a great listen with a lot to learn about writing a nonfiction picture book and persistence in writing. Scroll on down and check it out!

About Suzanne

Suzanne Jacobs Lipshaw is a nonfiction picture book author and elementary special education teacher who is passionate about growing young minds through her teaching and writing. The proud momma of two grown boys, Suzanne lives in Waterford, MI with her husband and Ziggy, her furry writing companion. When she’s not dreaming up new writing or teaching projects, you can find her kayaking on the lake, hiking a trail, practicing at the yoga studio, or comparing paint swatches at the local Sherwin Williams. Learn more about Suzanne at SuzanneJacobsLipshaw.com.

 

I’m back! Coming to you fresh off the moving truck. We don’t’ even have internet at our place yet, so I keep having to visit coffee shops. (Poor me.

 

Edit: Alas, the one time an episode has an uploading issue, it would happen when we were moving and couldn’t fix the error for a few days. All should be good now. Scroll on to the bottom of the page for the episode.

Today’s podcast comes to you in the middle of our move to Virginia. It’s all in motion here, while I’m here in Virginia with the kids and Steve packs the truck in Texas. But some time ago, I had a lovely chat with author Pippa Pennington who writes picture books and early readers about a dog called Sniffer.

“Write a scene invoking all the senses” is a common writing prompt, but the sense of smell is one that writers often forget, but Pippa has centered her series on smell! Scroll to the bottom and have a listen to her wisdom on writing scents and so much more.

About Pippa

 

Pippa Pennington is a primary school teacher and her love of dogs led her to write about Sniffer.

The ‘Sniffer’ books were inspired by a story she made up for her youngest son, Joe. Pippa never reached the end of the story as he loved the bits when Sniffer said ‘Phew! What is that?’ Joe only ever wanted to hear about Sniffer and his escapades.

The series is soon to take Sniffer on holiday and to the zoo. If you´d like a free e-book about Sniffer just visit http://book.adventureswithsniffer.com

And grab your copy of the book that started it all: Sniffer

Hi, folks! It’s one week and a day until moving stage 1 (getting me and the kids out to Steve’s folks before the house is emptied), so it’s all chaos over here!

But just in time for the 50th anniversary of the moon landing, I have an awesome (and pre-recorded, of course) interview with Rinda Beach about her book on Neil Armstrong and the challenges of writing a story with highly technical elements as well as the unique challenges in researching and writing about a real person. Scroll on down to the bottom to listen and enjoy!

More about Rinda:

Rinda never planned to write. She was a second-grade teacher who read and told stories, until the night a bat paid her a visit. It inspired her to write. She learned how to edit, thanks to SCBWI, writing classes, and critique partners. Rinda substitute teaches to stay connected to today’s kids. She uses her knowledge and imagination to write stories for them. Her website features a weekly blog and book review for kids. She expanded her career to open a company, Beach Girl Press. Visit Rinda at www.rindabeach.com

Grab your copy of Neil Armstrong’s Wind Tunnel Dream!

Phew! It’s been a long couple weeks with publication on Dead Man’s Jazz and traveling to house-hunt, but I’m back! And this time, I interview one of my Houston writer buddies, Danielle Metcalfe-Chenail about her writing and her new picture book, Alis the Aviator. If you’re local to Houston, be sure to check out her events on June 5th and 6th at the Lone Star Flight Museum.

Now, on to the interview where she shares her wisdom on writing and enthusiam for Canadian history.

More about Danielle:

I’m a history-obsessed author living in Houston, Texas, where I spend my days writing, researching, and going on adventures with my family. I love animals, getting out in nature, and learning new languages and cultures.

I’m from Canada and frequently travel back for work and play. This year that included an amazing trip to Inuvik where I explored the Western Arctic by dog sled and Cessna 180 for a work-in-progress!

Find her at: https://www.daniellemc.com/

Today I chat with fellow Houston writer Angie Stubbs about her Cupcake and Noodles picture books, writing about travel for kids, and how to capture the memories you make as you travel the world. Her colorful and engaging books chronicle her family’s travels around the world from the perspective of her two young daughters. You can read all about their adventures in Kenya and New Zealand, with books on more locations to come!

A little about Angie:

A native of Houston, Texas, Angie Stubbs conceived the Cupcake and Noodles series to highlight the adventures she has with her family as they roam the world together. She is an attorney by training and graduated from Xavier University of Louisiana and the George Washington University School of Law. Along with her husband and their two preschoolers (the real life Cupcake and Noodles), she is an avid traveler who hopes to inspire families to explore the world. Angie enjoys cooking, reading and exercising in her spare time.

 

Find more from Angie at https://www.angiestubbs.com/ and read her advice on travel with kids at http://raisingnomads.com/

And don’t forget to grab a copy of Cupcake and Noodles Go to Kenya and Cupcake and Noodles Go to New Zealand.