Frequently Asked Questions

 

1. Where do you get your stories?

If I'm looking for a specific kind of story--for instance a child who survived being struck by lightning--I'll go to the library and use Newsbank, keying in on words like "lightning" and "child". Friends call or email me when they see an interesting story on the news. Mostly, though, I get tips from kids who read the Real Kids, Real Adventures books (or watch the TV series on Saturday mornings) and send notes or newspaper clippings. The first one to submit a story tip that gets used in a future volume gets their name mentioned in the book and gets a free, autographed copy.

2. How much do you get paid for a book?

With most books, you don't get a single check; you get an "advance against royalties". An "advance" is money the publisher gives you up front, usually $5,000 - $10,000 for a children's book. (That's kind of a loan to keep you from starving while you're writing the book.) Once the book is published, you start earning "royalties"-- say, 10% of the book's selling price. For example, for every Real Kids, Real Adventures book that sells for $4.99, I earn about 49 cents. Until my advance is paid back on each book, the publisher keeps all the royalties. After that I start getting money again. Royalty checks usually come once or twice a year.

3. How long does it take you to write a book?

It takes me about three months for each Real Kids, Real Adventures book. That includes the time it takes me to interview the kids, do all the research and write their stories. For bigger books, of course, it would take longer.

4. How long does it take to get a book published?

That depends on a lot of things: How good the book is, how carefully you've prepared your manuscript, and often just plain luck. Some best-selliing authors (Louis L'Amour, for example) had to work for years to get their first book contract. The main thing to remember is to keep trying!

5. Do you draw the pictures on the book covers?

No... and you'd better be glad I don't! I'm a terrible artist. My kids have always laughed at my drawings. But it doesn't matter, because publishers like to hire their own artists to illustrate books. The artist who designed the new covers for the Real Kids Real Adventures series is a Canadian named Doug Downey. You can check out his website and drop him a note!

6. How many books have you written?

Thirteen so far. My first book was Trapped in a Cave!, a true story about two boys who got trapped in an underground cave with their dad for five days without food, water or light. Then I "ghosted" an adult fiction novel, which means that I wrote it, but somebody else's name went on it as "author". Next I wrote the current eleven volumes of Real Kids, Real Adventures. Right now I'm working on the next two Real Kids, Real Adventures books.

7. What's your favorite book that you've written?

I like all of them! Really. I wouldn't write them if I didn't.

8. How old was your grandmother when you dedicated Real Kids, Real Adventures #1 to her?

(Okay, okay, nobody really asks me this. But I wish they would, because the answer is...) 102! Her name was Beatrice Hyacinth Snyder, and she was born on September 4th, 1894. She lived to be 103, and was a talented poet throughout her life. Is that cool or what?

9. What are your favorite books that you've read?

My favorite books in the whole world are the Chronicles of Narnia by C.S. Lewis. I've read them all at least 20 times. I also love Hatchet and DogSong by Gary Paulsen. Actually, I like almost all of Paulsen's books. He's one of my favorite living authors.

10. What's the hardest part about being a writer?

Writing. But that's also the easiest, most exciting and most fun part! Before I started writing (for a career), I did a lot of other interesting things, like working as a commercial fisherman in central Florida and as a gold-miner in Arizona. My husband and I also traveled all across the country in a Mayflower Moving Van. But you know what? Writing is more interesting than any of those things. I think I've got the most fun job in the world!

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