Sweet and funny describes author Mary Hanson. She has been part of my local SCBWI gang for years.
Always working on her craft and promotion, Mary did a Youtube trailer for her new book, HOW TO SAVE YOUR TAIL at: youtube.com/watch?v=lsaSd1GjWeQ
I'm happy that my buddy Mary Hanson agreed to answer a few questions.
When and why did you start writing for children?
When I was a children’s librarian, the best part of any day was story hour. There was absolutely nothing better than to witness a great book cast its spell on that small sea of faces.
And when the kids laughed, I thought I had died and gone to heaven. I think it just was a natural progression to want to write for children; and to dream that someday, somewhere, a story of mine would cast its own spell at storytime.
What is the most valuable advice you can give to a newly published writer?
First, I recommend champagne and chocolate-covered strawberries.
After that, I defer to the experts you’ve already interviewed and the ones yet to come. HOW TO SAVE YOUR TAIL is my fifth book, and I’m still trying to work out a realistic balance between writing and marketing. So far, the desire to write has a big advantage over the love of public speaking. Making a book trailer was fun, though. Anyone who is a tiny bit intrigued should give that one a try.
What is one of your favorite children’s books that you'd like to recommend?
At the moment? LAIKA, by Nick Abadzis.
What are you working on now?
I’m in the midst of the discovery draft for a new middle grade—which needs a lot more discovery before I can talk about it. It’s safe to say, though, that it will be rat-free.
What is your favorite dessert and why?
On most days, I would simply say chocolate. But today, I’ve fixated on the Banoffee Pie at Patrick’s Side Street Café in Los Olivos:
http://www.patrickssidestreetcafe.com/
How can anything without chocolate be that amazing?
Bio-blurb:
Mary Hanson earned her BA and MLS at UCLA and is a former children’s librarian. She has worked with students of all ages, and from 2001 to 2006, served as the writing and story coach for the two-time state champion San Marcos Mock Trial Team. Her picture books include THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN BABIES & COOKIES (Harcourt, 2002), THE OLD MAN AND THE FLEA (Rising Moon, 2001), SNUG (Simon & Schuster, 1998), and FOGHORN (Willowisp Press, 1994).
HOW TO SAVE YOUR TAIL, Mary’s newest book for older readers, features a rat named Bob, who escapes the cat-jaws of death by dishing out story after story and a batch of butter cookies. Published by Schwartz & Wade Books in Spring, 2007, TAIL has received praise from School Library Journal, Kirkus Reviews, and Booklist, especially for its read-aloud qualities; and The Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books calls it a “sparkling fractured fairy tale novel…both surprising and hilarious.”
Catch a peek of the book trailer for HOW TO SAVE YOUR TAIL at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lsaSd1GjWeQ
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