Interview with Darcy Pattison

Link:  11 Ways to Ruin a Photograph Book Trailer

Michelle:  Was there a specific event or person who touched your heart before writing your work of fiction, 11 Ways to Ruin a Photograph?

Darcy:  I live near the Little Rock Air Force Base and have watched military families for years as they endure deployment of their loved ones. You may think it’s just something to do with the Iraq or Afghanistan fronts, but in reality, as long as we have a military force to defend our country, military families will struggle through this issue. My heart goes out to the family (as a whole) but especially the kids, as moms and dads are gone for long periods. And I love the stubbornness of this character, her commitment to her vision of what a family is. She finds humorous ways to express her frustration and is rewarded in the end with the task of keeping up the family album.

Michelle:  Thanks Darcy!  I love to know all about an author’s inspiration.  More interview questions tomorrow.

Reminder:  Just two days left to win 11 Ways to Ruin a Photograph by Darcy Pattison.

Leave a comment below and click on the “email subscription” button below if you haven’t already.

Holiday hugs to you and yours,

Michelle

11 Ways to Ruin a Photograph by Darcy Pattison and two GIVEAWAYS

I am pleased to close 2011 with an award-winning book that will touch you deeply –

11 Ways to Ruin a Photograph

by Darcy Pattison; Illustrated by Michael Jeter

 

Darcy Pattison brings an enduring story to the pages of her latest picture book work of fiction, 11 Ways to Ruin a Photograph.  This picture book conveys a heart-warming reality infused within a year of perseverance and coping, a year of waiting in the life of a military child.  We know our servicemen and women go to foreign lands spending months and possibly years away from home.  We view television groups of faces as they deploy and see families celebrating their safe return.  But there are other stories, stories hidden in the day-to-day existence of military family life.

Darcy Pattison captures simple everyday military life events and permeates the new understanding for those of us who are more detached.  You will cry, you will smile, and you will laugh.  This story will move your heart to know and consider one more reason military children face and the uncertain responses filtering throughout family separation.

FREEBIES:  To celebrate 11 Ways to Ruin a Photograph, this blog will give away two (author signed) free copies.  To be considered, please leave a comment below and click “email subscription” once to sign up for this blog’s RSS feed.

You may enter daily by commenting on each daily post until December 20, 2011.

The winners will be drawn by an independent group and announced on this blog December 21, 2011:

www.michellebradford.wordpress.com

Order your copy here.

About Darcy Pattison click here

May you and yours be filled with joy and peace and understanding this holiday season.

Remember,

“Speak to the Heart!”

Michelle

Fear Not! Big Chickens Go To Town – Interview with Children’s Author Leslie Helakoski

As a fellow bird and chicken-lover, the pleasure of interviewing Children’s Author, Leslie Helakoski is one of excitement and honor. She creates timeless works of humorous fiction, touching hearts and generations with smiles…everywhere.

Michelle — What is your favorite type of chicken?

Leslie — Big ones, of course!

Michelle — What inspired you to write these chicken books? What inspired previous books?

Leslie – These chicken books are all autobiographical–I’m a recovering chicken, myself, so I found writing about fear very natural. The first book, Big Chickens, is about making things worse with our fear. The second book, Big Chickens Fly the Coop, is about running back to safety instead of pursuing your dream and the third one, Big Chickens Go to Town, is about the fear of the unknown. In all cases, I want chickens everywhere to know that the answers are not outside themselves. Hopefully, the books show that in a fun way. I love playing with words and being silly with language and chickens are a fun vehicle.

Go To Town

From another part of the barn came Woolbur, the story of a free thinking sheep. This award winner was inspired by working with the kind of kid who makes working with kids hard.

Michelle — In writing, which came first, the chicken or the egg?

Leslie — If the book is the egg that was hatched, that means the chicken came first, which was me. In writing, the idea of ‘chicken chickens’ is what came to me first. That is the title I wanted but it had been used years ago and we didn’t want to have any confusion with that book. For me, visuals have to come along with an idea. That is what makes me want to tell the tale that I see in my head. I like to paint also, perhaps that is why I focus on visuals so much but picture books require fun images and that in turn inspires me to write.

My newest book, Fair Cow, will be released in August 2010 and will be the first book that I have both written and illustrated. Now, what other barn animals haven’t I addressed?

Thank you Leslie for the opportunity to feature your books on my blog and for your lovely contributions to beautiful, humorous, and timeless, quality children’s literature.

If you are interested in finding out more about Leslie’s latest books or for more information, her website link follows:

http://www.helakoskibooks.com/