Interview with young author Erik Weibel, and book giveaway!

I am very pleased to introduce to you the youngest author I have interviewed so far. Erik Weibel is the author of The Adventures of Tomato and Pea, book 1: A Bad Idea. If you missed my review of his book you can read it here. I hope you enjoy our interview and then participate in the giveaway.

Hello, Erik. Welcome to my interview chair; it’s my pleasure to interview you before you become famous. 🙂 Please tell us a little
about yourself.

Thank you for having me here Mrs. Davidson! I am 12 years old and I am in 6th grade. I run the blog This Kid Reviews Books that I started when I was 9. I also write a monthly book column for The Upper Bucks Free Press.

You are a very ambitious pre-teen! Now that you have a book out, do you consider yourself to be “a writer”? If so, when did you first know you wanted to be a writer? Who or what inspired you?

I guess I am a writer. I blog, I have a newspaper column and I am trying to write books.

I have always liked to write, but it was my uncle, Dave Costella, who got me interested in writing Tomato & Pea. Uncle Dave made two stuffed toys and told me they were named Tomato and Pea (I think he named them after the color of the fabric he made them out of). Dave gave me the toys and asked me if I could write a story about them (I am always making up stories). I was nine years old at the time. Dave told me he didn’t care what the story was about, to just use my imagination. That was my original prompt to write an entire story for the first time.

Your Uncle Dave must be delighted. 🙂 I know you are a voracious reader. Do you read every day? How many books do you think you read in a month?

I actually get into trouble at school and at home because I read so much. I read every day, no exceptions. I can’t remember ever not reading something on any day. I started keeping a list of the books I read every month. I read about 20-30 books per month. This past February I have 30 books listed.

You read three times as many books as I did in February. Do you have any favourite authors, genres, or books so far?

Brian Jacques, Rick Riordan, Roland Smith, Jude Watson, Nick Bruel, Michael Buckley, James Patterson, Tom Angleberger, Brandon Mull, Matt Phelan, Chris Grabentstein, Matt Myklusch… I can go on and on… my list is too big. Brian Jacques is one of my top 3 favorite authors, and I wish to be more like him in his writing. I love Fantasy and Sci-Fi and Action Adventure books. A specific book? Impossible. 😉

Would you read less so you can write more? Or would you write less so you can read more?

I write when I get in the mood (an average of 2-3 hours a week), so I don’t think I would change much. I think I have a good balance of both. I enjoy both so I wouldn’t give one up for the other.

Do you have a motto or Bible verse or quote that you try to live by and that helps to keep you motivated?

I will quote Master Yoda: “Do or do not. There is no try.” I also try to live by the Golden Rule: To treat others as you wish to be treated.

I like that quote, too. I may have to post it somewhere on my blog (and near my desk) as a reminder to keep moving forward. As for the Golden Rule, if everyone would keep it in mind we would live in a happier world. What is your biggest dream for your life, Erik?

Besides a world-famous author and a government agent (AKA secret agent AKA spy!), I want to try to make the world a better place somehow. Maybe help people through whatever work I will be doing.

Interesting choices! It’s always good to strive to be a good influence. What can you tell us about your very first time to be published (before your book), how did that happen?

I wrote a poem called “One Kid” for Dr. Niamh Clune of Plumb Tree Books. It was published in an anthology called “The Song of Sahel.” It was a charity event to help the people of Sahel Africa. My sister Josie painted a picture that was published in the same book. We were very happy to be published in the book and that it was for such a good cause.

What have you had published thus far? What do you most enjoy writing?

The poem for “The Song of Sahel”, my book The Adventures of Tomato and Pea, and the articles I write for the Upper Bucks Free Press are things that have been officially published. I compete a lot in writing contests too. Sometimes they get posted on other people’s blogs.

I really like writing funny stories. I like to make people (and myself) laugh. I also like to write fantasy. It’s cool to get lost in another world.

I appreciate good humour and enjoy reading fantasy, so I look forward to your future books. What helps you with writing and perfecting a book or article?

I read a lot of articles and took classes on how to make your writing better. I also ask for help from other people to critique my work. I think it helps to have others cheer you on and give you good advice (not necessarily what you want to hear, but honest advice). That helps keep you motivated.

Sometimes it is hard to accept what you don’t want to hear, but your writing will keep improving with your good attitude. How do you keep track of your writing ideas?

I have tons of journals and idea books. I carry one with me at all times (my idea journal).

That’s a good habit. How long did it take you to write The Adventures of Tomato and Pea?

My uncle, Dave, gave me the inspiration – actually he challenged me, to write a whole story. I kept telling him bits and pieces of different stories and he wanted me to write a whole one down. That’s why I wrote Tomato and Pea.

It took me about one year to write, and another to edit. About 6 months were spent looking for agents and publishers.

Did you write a little of yourself into any of the characters?

I wrote some of the things I love to do into all of the characters. I like to cook (Skew), spout random facts (Poppy Lobster), I am good with tech-y things (Pea), and I like to lead (Tomato). I also like to laugh in a maniacal way (Wintergreen). MWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!

Why did you decide to publish your book in the non-traditional way?

Well I tried to get an agent and that didn’t work. I couldn’t even get a rejection letter. Then I tried sending my MS directly to publishers and I finally got what I wanted – my first rejection letter! It started off “Dear Author” – and I thought, “Hey! That’s me! Author!”

So, I figured that either no one was going to take an 11-year-old seriously or maybe my MS really wasn’t that great or there are so many other awesome books out there that I’d never get anyone to look at it. So I figured I’d try to self-publish it. I’m happy I did. I got some people to read it and mostly everyone who reads it likes it. That makes me happy.

It is a great start, Erik. What do you most enjoy about writing?

The freedom. The notebooks. The pens (have you seen how many different types there are?). The fact that I get my ideas down (I have a lot of ideas, and they all get cluttered). I like that I get to write out my thoughts and feelings and write a story no one has thought of.

I have lots of pens, too. What other interests do you have for a change from reading and writing?

I study 3 different martial arts (TaeKwon-Do (black belt), Karate (green belt), and Jujitsu (blue belt)). I also study 3 foreign languages (Latin, French and Russian). I like to cook and do things outdoors (like hike and camp). I also just started to train to run in 5ks. I like to run (makes sense, because I’m 5’7″ and wear men’s size 11 wide shoes, so I can cover a lot of ground. 🙂 ).

Impressive! How do you find time to write when you are busy with school and everything else in your life?

I write when I have the urge to do it. It seems like I can write (or type) things down faster when I get inspired to do it. I also work well if I put goals or deadlines on myself. If I didn’t do that I would just probably read all the time. 🙂

I also *barely* watch TV, and we don’t even have cable, actually we don’t have a TV hooked up at all right now. If I do watch “TV” it’s usually movies or old TV shows we stream on the computer. I don’t play video games that much either (2 hours a week, on average).

I try to keep organized. My mom helps me with that too.

I bet you keep your mom busy with that task. 😉 What are your writing goals?

To have 10 best-selling novels. To be world-wide famous. 😀

I expect you will do it, too! Do you have another book in the works? If so, can you share anything about that with our readers?

I am working on the next book in the Tomato and Pea series. To give you a hint, Wintergreen (the villain), is up to no good and is loose on EAR-TH (Earth). Tomato and the gang have to ask for help from some locals to get Wintergreen under control.

I am also working on several picture book drafts. One I wrote while taking Susanna Leonard Hill’s Making Picture Book Magic class and a couple of others that I am writing during Julie Hedlund’s 12×12 challenge.

I also have several novels I am working on (waiting for the inspiration to hit).

Good for you, you’re a novelist in the making! Finally, do you have any advice for hopefuls?

Don’t be afraid to ask for help and be able to take criticism. There are a lot of really nice people out there who really want to help you.

That is wise advice, Erik, thanks! And thank you for this wonderful interview. I wish you much success which I am sure you will achieve.

Thank you Ms. Davidson for interviewing me! 🙂

Now, dear readers, how would you like to win a copy of Erik Weibel’s first book, The Adventures of Tomato and Pea, book 1: A Bad Idea? Erik’s mom has kindly offered to send a copy to one person who leaves a comment. Just tell us what most impressed you or helped you in this interview. One name will be drawn on Tuesday, March 11, at 6:00 PM EST. I will contact the winner for a mailing address.

Be sure to check your email; you could be the one to win a copy of The Adventures of Tomato and Pea by Erik Weibel!

Thanks for reading, and … Creative Musings! 🙂

Book Review: The Adventures of Tomato and Pea, Book 1: A Bad Idea – by Erik Weibel

Book: The Adventures of Tomato and Pea, Book 1: A Bad Idea

Author: Erik Weibel

Publisher: Erik Weibel

Sold by: Amazon Digital Services, Inc.

Date: August 14, 2013

Genre: MG chapter book, adventure

Pages: 72 pages

Price: $5.99 paper; $2.95 Kindle

My rating: Excellent little book for young readers; a fun, convincing adventure

I had the privilege to read this book in its unpolished state and later received a copy of the finished product for review.

Having met the author, Erik Weibel, a couple of years ago through his blog “This Kid Reviews Books“, I have been able to watch from afar his growth as a writer. Oh, did I say … Erik self-published his book when he was eleven – he is a twelve-year-old now. And I’m a little jealous.

The Adventures of Tomato and Pea is a fun, entertaining space adventure. Erik has a good handle on writing characters, dialogue, and word pictures. He adds in humour, characters with defined personality, and tension for a good storyline. Erik has paid close attention to enough detail to make this an interesting story to read and visualize.

The reader is presented with friends, enemies, a big problem – such as a spaceship crashing on the planet Ear-th – and further situations that challenge the tiny (only a few inches tall) space travellers. They learn friendship, cooperation, loyalty, integrity, which all are great lessons for children – and adults – and are delivered in a non-preachy way.

Erik Weibel has learned a lot from the tips and lessons he’s been able to receive via writing challenges and exposure. It is evident in this great little book, The Adventures of Tomato and Pea, that his writing skill is beyond his age.

This book is for younguns’ … boys might enjoy it more but I’m not a boy and I enjoyed it, too! If it is read to a child who can follow along and understand the story it is easily suitable for as young as five – and upward. (My eight-year-old grandson has his own copy and is enjoying reading it.)

Although children should especially enjoy this one, The Adventures of Tomato and Pea written by Erik Weibel is a wonderful read for anyone – and encouragement for future young writers.

You can find The Adventures of Tomato and Pea on my BUY THE BOOK! page.

Come back for my interview with Erik Weibel on March 6, and a book giveaway! Erik is generously offering a copy of his first book to one person who comments.

Thanks for reading, and … Creative Musings! 🙂

Book Review: The Sun Zebra by Rolando Garcia

Book: The Sun Zebra

Author: Rolando Garcia

Publisher: R. Garcia

Date: November 18, 2011 (5th edition)

Sold by: Amazon Digital Services, Inc.

Genre: short stories, “adventures in living”

Pages: 66

Price: $1.79 on Kindle

My rating: a great little book that puts a smile on one’s heart

I received a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

The Sun Zebra is a collection of five short stories written by R. Garcia. They are wonderful stories about the adventures in the life of a little girl, Nell, and her parents, and are told by her father. Perhaps this does not sound very intriguing, but don’t be fooled. Mr. Garcia writes with heart and humour, drawing the reader in as he cleverly tells his tale in an entertaining way, giving the reader the feeling of being there.

Five stories. Five adventures:

The Sun Zebra – after which the book was named;
Bob the Intrepid Insectnaut!;
Raven-Lenore;
The Meaningless Christmas Tree;
Birdman and the Fairy Tale

The preface begins, “This book is best described as a children’s book for grownups.” – and that’s a great way to begin. Each story inspires the reader to look at the seemingly insignificant things in life a little differently, and challenges one to see through the innocent eyes and understanding of a curious and thoughtful young child. As a delightful and easy read The Sun Zebra is enjoyable, interesting, funny, thought-provoking.

R. Garcia also writes under the pen name of Phantomimic. He has a following on Scribd.com where he shares his work, and which encouraged him to write a book. The Sun Zebra is the result of that decision. It is well worth his effort and a pleasure to read.

You can find The Sun Zebra on my BUY THE BOOK! page.

Thanks for reading, and … Creative Musings! 🙂

Interview with Tara Lazar

Today I am delighted to welcome Tara Lazar to my blog. Tara is a mover and shaker in the world of children’s books. She graciously agreed to an interview with me to share about her journey and the exciting things she is learning and doing as a writer.

Tara, welcome! Thank you so much for consenting to allow me to pick your brain. First of all, congratulations on the publishing in 2013 of your first picture book The Monstore. It is a fabulous picture book. (To read my review click here.)

Now, let’s dig right in. Please tell us a little about yourself.

I’m a pajama addict and I have one husband, two daughters, and far too many stuffed animals. I love to laugh. And according to my daughters, I laugh far too loud in far too many public places.

I love to laugh, too, and to make people laugh. Nothing wrong with that! 🙂 When did you first know you wanted to be a writer? Who or what inspired you?

Honestly I knew from just about the time I learned how to write. I would always cheer HOORAY! when a teacher announced it was time for creative writing…while the rest of the class groaned.

All the books of my childhood inspired me—those by Roald Dahl, Judy Blume, Beverly Cleary, Paula Danziger, William Steig and Charles M. Schulz. The kicker was learning that “She Was Nice to Mice” was written by 12-year-old Ally Sheedy. I said to myself, “I can do that, too!” Of course, it took me a little longer to actually do it…

But, you did do it. Yay! As a writer, do you do much reading? How important is it to you to read other authors’ work?

I read daily. It’s a joy, an escape and an education. It’s like a football coach studying the competing team’s plays.

Over the last five years I’ve read so much that I’ve stopped watching almost all TV. I find that it just doesn’t stimulate me the way reading does. I get easily bored with TV. I never thought I’d ever say that. I was a TV kid growing up; you couldn’t unglue me from the set.

You have inspired me already! There’s where I can pick up my reading time instead of idly watching TV to veg, except for some movies. Who were/are your favourite authors? How have they affected your own writing?

Roald Dahl is my favourite author and a quote from The Minpins reflects my attitude towards my own writing: “And above all, watch with glittering eyes the whole world around you, because the greatest secrets are always hidden in the most unlikely places. Those who don’t believe in magic will never find it.”

Oh, I love that inspiring quote! Why are picture books where your heart is?

I love the play of images and text that combine to create the whole—it’s greater than the sum of its parts. I never outgrew my six-year-old need for illustrations in a story.

Many of my readers will have heard about PiBoIdMo – Picture Book
Idea Month. This is your brain child, and a challenge I participated
in three times so far. How did you get this started and why? For our
readers who don’t know much about PiBoIdMo, please tell us about it.

I got started because I was jealous of all the novelists having fun in November with NaNoWriMo. I wanted a challenge for picture book writers. So I created one.

The challenge of PiBoIdMo is to create 30 picture book concepts in 30 days. Just an idea a day—you don’t have to write an entire manuscript (but you can if the mood strikes). Every day in November my blog features author, illustrator and editor guest bloggers who write about their own sources of inspiration, to encourage you along on your journey.

You do so much each year to inspire others through PiBoIdMo; it’s obviously loads of work. How long does it take you to get each year’s challenge set up with all your wonderful guest contributors, exciting prizes, and well-executed scheduling?

Funny, I have no idea how much time it takes! I love doing it, so time isn’t of consequence. I compose my wish list of guest bloggers throughout the year and start sending out invitations in August. By October, I’ve got it all scheduled. Each year I get a little better at organizing it. Organization is not my strong suit.

How has PiBoIdMo affected your own writing over the years, what has it done for you?

Well, I never complete my own darn challenge, that’s for sure! But being so immersed in picture books during the month gives me plenty of inspiration. I usually write a new manuscript in November.

Excellent! Do you have an agent? A critique group?

Yes and yes. I think both are crucial to my career.

How long did it take you to pull this book together to your satisfaction? And then how did you catch the attention of a publisher so The Monstore became a reality? Did you have to change your story much for it to be accepted and ready?

Honestly it was never to the point where I felt comfortable submitting it. I was gun-shy after years of rejections. My crit partner, Corey Rosen Schwartz (author of “The Three Ninja Pigs”), thought it was ready and encouraged me to query agents. It got attention and I signed with Ammi-Joan Paquette of the Erin Murphy Literary Agency. Joan sold it a few weeks afterwards. It was a whirlwind. And it spoiled me. No other sale has been that quick.

What a great start! How did James Burks become the illustrator of The Monstore? Your work and his are an excellent combination.

My editor and art director at Aladdin suggested James. They sent me a link to his online portfolio, explaining he could draw children as well as he could draw monsters—not an easy feat—and I agreed, “Yes, yes, a thousand times YES!”

It is exciting that this year you have another book coming to our bookstores! Please talk about that and what you have lined up for publishing.

I THOUGHT THIS WAS A BEAR BOOK features an alien who gets knocked out of his book and crash-lands into the book of Goldilocks and the Three Bears. Chaos ensues. I then have three more picture books under contract. And hopefully more…and more…

What a delightful story! Three more under contract? Wow! I look forward to the more … and more … 🙂
When do you write? Do you set goals for yourself?

I write all different times of day. While eating lunch, while falling asleep, while taking a shower. I don’t follow any particular structure or routine. In fact, I’m a very anti-routine type of person. I like doing things differently every day, and that means I don’t necessarily write every day. But I am almost always thinking of my stories, and I count thinking as “writing with invisible ink.”

“writing with invisible ink.” That must be what I do as I mull an idea over in my mind quite awhile, the trick is to get it onto paper. What process do you go through when writing and perfecting a story? How do you keep track of your ideas?

I write down ideas as soon as I get them. If the idea is really eating at me, I’ll begin a Word Doc with the title, premise, or first few lines. Sometimes I’ll even write a first draft immediately.

My process is different for every story. Some shoot out like a rocket; I can’t stop them. Others take a lot of “marinating”—that is, letting them sit in my subconscious for weeks or months. And yet others get revised 90 gazillion times, for years.

How do you manage your time with family, speaking engagements, PiBoIdMo, and everything else going on in your busy life?

I’m a fly-by-the-seat-of-my-pants kind of gal. I try not to structure my days and instead gravitate toward what I feel like that day. Plus I have MS, which means every day is different for my body and I can’t really plan too much or else I get exhausted. So I go by feeling. Miraculously, it all seems to balance out. Except the laundry.

Wow! You manage very well with what you have to deal with daily. I have a hard time living by a schedule on the best of days. What interests do you have apart from writing and anything involved with writing?

I used to be a figure skater, but since I was diagnosed with MS, I have not been able to skate. Writing has filled up that spot in my heart.

I also enjoy making jewelry. I taught myself how to wrap wire and bead, and I can sit for hours just creating. Right now I’m making book rings—they’re adorable!

I’m sorry you can no longer skate, that must have been a disappointing loss. It’s wonderful you are such a creative person so you can still find expression through your artistic projects … and I’m so glad you love to write. In closing, do you have any advice for hopefuls?

Have fun writing. Let your enthusiasm shine through. Choose this career because you love it—you love it like you can’t live without it. This business is extremely difficult, and you need that love to pull you through.

Thank you for this excellent advice and inspiring interview, Tara!

Check out Tara Lazar‘s blog here for helpful information for writers, and see what books she has coming up. If you are a hopeful writer of children’s books, and you want to participate in a fun, inspiring, information-filled challenge, while there click on the link for PiBoIdMo.

Thanks for reading, and … Creative Musings!

Book Review: The Monstore – by Tara Lazar

Book: The Monstore

Author: Tara Lazar

Illustrator: James Burks

Publisher: Aladdin

Date: June 4, 2013

Genre: picture book for ages 4-7 (and far beyond!)

Pages: 32

Price: paper: $16.99; Kindle $15.86

My rating: A fabulously funny and gorgeous book!

Having ‘met’ Tara Lazar on the Internet, mainly through her Picture Book Ideas Month (PiBoIdMo) challenge, I HAD to buy this book. The Monstore is her first published picture book and what a fantastic debut!

This picture book is gorgeous! Not only is it entertaining, it is full of delightful, colourful illustrations that cleverly keep the reader searching for more hidden little creatures. I admit I bought it for myself, but I shared some reading time with my eight-year-old grandson. We both had great fun (no exaggeration) making our way through the story and finding the many monsters peeking out of hiding places and making Zack’s life hilariously frustrating.

But who is Zack? Zack is a little boy who has a big little problem. His little sister is a big nuisance! Zack decides to devise a way to keep her out of his room since the “Keep Out” sign he stuck on his door didn’t do the trick.

Zack visits the candy store where there is a trap door with a secret knock that is required to let him in … into The Monstore! Once there Zack begins something he wishes he had never tried. He buys a monster to scare his sister, but that monster leads to another and another and … with No Returns No Exchanges No Exceptions … it is one monsterly problem for Zack! And a very entertaining adventure for the reader.

Tara Lazar‘s The Monstore is a wonderfully imaginative, brilliant story that – combined with fantastic illustrations by James Burks – captures one’s attention immediately. This is a book for not only the imaginations of four to seven-year-olds, but for everyone who loves a fun story filled with surprises.

Watch for my interview with Tara Lazar; not only do we discuss this book but some other wonderful things she is working on.

You can find The Monstore on my BUY THE BOOK! page.

Thanks for reading, and … Creative Musings! 🙂

Book Review: On Our Own: Widowhood for Smarties – by Thelma Zirkelbach, Barbara B. Rollins, Becky Haigler, Robyn Conley

Book: On Our Own: Widowhood for Smarties

Author: 67 different contributors

Publisher: Silver Boomer Books

Date: August 31, 2012

Genre: non-fiction anthology

Pages: 216

Price: $14.00

My rating: a bittersweet collection well worth the read

I was asked to read and review this book some time ago, and I’m glad I was given the opportunity. It was compiled by Thelma Zirkelbach, Barbara B. Rollins, Becky Haigler, and Robyn Conley.

On Our Own: Widowhood for Smarties consists of almost one hundred stories, poems, and essays from sixty-seven different widows and widowers who are working through the grief of the loss of their life partner. It is a journey through the grieving process someone in that situation will understand, while not being too far removed from the appreciation of others not yet there.

Some entries will put a tear in your eye, others a smile on your face, and a few may cause you to chuckle.

I like what it says on the back cover, so will include it here:

Widowhood…a status with some deference but a role few seek. A new beginning usually greeted with dread rather than anticipation. The writers of this collection express the range of emotions at the loss of a spouse but the overwhelming message is affirmation of the strength they find to create new lives after deep loss. Widows and widowers will read these stories and poems with knowing nods, sighs and smiles. Other readers will find insight into a common human condition and perhaps courage to face their own unsought new beginnings. As the subtitle suggests, this is widowhood for smarties, for those who acknowledge the pain of loss but who are learning to live in spite of it, even to build on it.

It’s obvious there was much thought put into the creation of this book. Along the bottom of every page there is a continuous appropriate offering of quotes, adding to and complimenting the main content.

Examples:

“Someone who thinks death is the scariest thing doesn’t know a thing about life.” – Sue Monk Kidd
“I don’t mind dying, I just don’t want to be there when it happens.” – Woody Allen
“Death leaves a heartache no one can heal, love leaves a memory no one can steal.” – from a headstone in Ireland
“Grief can’t be shared. Everyone carries it alone. His own burden in his own way.” – Anne Morrow Lindbergh
“The pain passes, but the beauty remains.” – Pierre Auguste Renoir

This anthology gives a well-rounded taste of the experience of widowhood, the deep profound loss, the pain and grief, but it also is encouraging and hopeful. On Our Own: Widowhood for Smarties is not only for the grieving of the loss of a relationship, it is a glimpse into the experience and definitely a good read for anyone.

You can find On Our Own: Widowhood for Smarties on my BUY THE BOOK! page.

Thanks for reading, and … Creative Musings! 🙂

We have our winners of Shadows in the Stone!

Tonight my husband drew two names out of the basket. Betty and Darlene will each be receiving an email from Diane with the coupon for them to obtain their copy of Shadows in the Stone.

Congratulations, ladies! 🙂

Please watch for more book reviews, interviews, and the occasional book giveaway.

Thanks for reading, and … Creative Musings! 🙂