At the SCBWI National conference I had the great fortune to meet author Terri Fields. She gave me an advance copy of her new novel, My Father's Son, which I loved. I am so happy that Terri Fields agreed to be interviewed.
When and why did you start writing for children?
My six-year-old son was not at all impressed that I had been published for adults or that my writing had won prizes. He begged, "Mommy, please stop writing all that boring stuff and write something good."
Flabbergasted I asked, "What is something good?" He informed me that it would be a book for him and his friends, one they would like to read. He wanted it to happen so badly that I decided I'd better try to do it. It took me four years to get it right; it was the longest I'd ever spent with rejection, but it was worth it. I realized that I loved writing for children and young adults best of all, and 18 books later, I still feel that way!
What is the most valuable advice you can give to a newly published writer?
First, take a deep breath, congratulate yourself, and celebrate your accomplishment. Then remember, that in today's world, your work has not ended with the publication of the book. You need to help with the promotion.
What is one of your favorite children’s books that you'd like to recommend?
Two picture books: Because of You B.G. Hennessy, and I Heard It From Alice Zucchini by Juanita Havill.
What are you working on now?
I have two new books. Missing in the Mountains, a middle-grade adventure novel just came out, and in September, a YA called My Father's Son Here's a little about it: WHAT IF YOUR FATHER ISN’T WHO YOU THOUGHT HE WAS?
“I turn up the volume as a woman at a news desk announces, ‘This just in…the alleged DB25 monster has been arrested.’ Good. The camera switches from the anchor to a mug shot…but it is my face—or at least my face as it will look thirty years from now…A new image replaces the full-screen mug shot as I see two cops hustling my handcuffed father into the back of a police car.”
Suddenly everything in a routine life of school, basketball, and trying to figure out how to ask out the girl of his dreams is turned upside down as Kevin has to face the worst imaginable possibility: that the father he idolizes may be the man responsible for a series of vicious killings.
One thing that really inspired me to write this book was the question: "Do we ever, no matter what our age, see our parents as people or do only see them as our parents?"
What is your favorite dessert and why?
Wow, hardest question! I love hot fudge sundaes and carrot cake (but not together!)
Terri Fields is an award-winning author of 18 books that range from picture books through YA. A former Teacher of the Year, Terri now works with teachers as an in-service presenter. She is also in demand for school author visits that span grades K-12. Fields loves writing for and working with the different age groups. Last year her two favorite memories: Having her book Danger in the Desert selected as the ONEBOOKAZ for Kids, and getting so many photos of classes making tortillas by using the recipe at the end of her Burro's Tortillas picture book
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