Terry Pierce Interview

Here is an interview I did with children's book author TERRY PIERCE.

 

When and why did  you start writing for children?
Throughout my life  as a teacher (twenty-two years), I'd always thought about writing for kids,  but the year before I stopped teaching, the desire to do so became very  strong.  I knew it was something I had to pour myself  into 100%. In 1999, I went against all "sound" advice and quit teaching  to follow the dream of writing for children. I gave myself a five year time  limit to get a book published. Four years later, I received my first  book contract (for Greatest Goofiest Jokes).

 

What is the most valuable advice you can give to a newly published writer?
I'd say to focus on two things: First, work  on promoting your book locally.  For me (and I think I  was an average first-time author), that really was the most  realistic thing to do. An author should have a great book launch,  send press releases to local newspapers, set up book signings,  notify schools (if you're prepared to do school visits) and tell everyone  you know about your book.  I carried my first book with me everywhere to  generate excitement about my launch.  I had people there from friends,  family, and colleagues to credit union tellers and my gynecologist! The  second thing I would recommend is to take care of yourself.  Remember  what got you to that point--writing! Make sure you continue to write  daily, read daily and stay on track with what is organic to you as a  writer

What is one of your favorite children’s  books that you'd like to recommend?

Just ONE???  I'll have to cheat here and answer by genre
(you can find a complete list of  my favorites on my blog http://www.terrypierce.blogspot.com). 

One of my favorite picture books is SAILOR MOO, COW AT SEA by Lisa Wheeler.  This book is great on so many levels.  The illustrations  are lovely, the text is perfect and it's a model example of a good rhyming picture book (complete with the magic 3's).  I use this one whenever I teach workshops on writing for children. My favorite easy reader is THE  SNOWBALL by Jennifer Armstrong.  It's a fun, rollicking story, also in  rhyme.  My favorite MGN is Charlotte's Web. I love it on so many  levels, like so many other people.  What more can I say? Last, I have  many favorite YA's and can't choose just one, but I would recommend reading  anything by Richard Peck.  He not only is a master of capturing  "voice" but his word choice and attention to detail are something that we can  all learn from. Sometimes I re-read sentences of his in awe of the beauty of  his writing.

What is your favorite dessert and  why? Ha! Okay, the best dessert I ever had  was at the 1999 SCBWI Summer Conference. It was a multi-layered work of art  that included custard, raspberries and blackberries, chocolate, whipped cream,  and raspberry sauce--all in an edible bowl (I'm gaining weight just thinking  about it!).  My favorite "every day" kind of dessert is ice cream.   I love ice cream, especially Kahulua Chip ice cream from Mike's Ice  Cream in Hood River, Oregon.
TERRY PIERCE is the author of fifteen children’s books, her most recent works being Tae Kwon Do!  (Random House Step-Into-Reading).Visit her web site: http://www.terrypiercebooks.com

Comments

[Terry P.]

Hi Tina,

Thanks so much for doing this! What a fun idea to interview local writers. I'm honored to have been your first one.

Happy blogging!