Fairy Tales and Reluctant Readers

I'm pleased to host Beverly Stowe McClure once more to my blog. For those of you who haven't met her yet, here's a brief bio:

When Beverly was a child, she hated to read. Even though her eighth-grade teacher sent her poem “Stars” to a high school anthology, and it was published in Young America Sings, she hated to write. In spite of her rocky relationship with the printed word, she attended Midwestern University, read more books than she ever imagined, wrote tons of papers, and graduated with a teaching degree. Imagine that. As a teacher, she also read a lot. Reading Dr. Seuss and other great children’s books to her sons and to her students made her realize what she’d been missing: reading was fun. Now, she reads and she also writes. Her stories and articles have been published in leading children’s magazines. One article was reprinted in a Scott Foresman PreK-K Anthology. Her “Breakthrough” article appeared in the June 2007 issue of Writer Magazine. She has five novels for tweens and teens published with four more under contract, along with a picture book. Caves, Cannons, and Crinolines, a YA historical fiction, is her latest release.

Here's Beverly's guest post. Read and enjoy!

FAIRY TALES AND RELUCTANT READERS

I often wonder why I hated to read when I was a child. Books were not a priority in our home. I don’t recall anyone ever reading to me, though my memory might be faulty there. I’m not using the lack of reading material as an excuse. My younger sister always had her nose in a book that she’d checked out from the school library. I was content to listen to the radio. (Yes, this was before TV.) Every Saturday morning I turned on the radio for my favorite show: “Let’s Pretend.”

“Let’s Pretend” was fairy tales. Cinderella. Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs. Sleeping Beauty, and all of the classics. Actors and actresses read the parts, transporting me to worlds of castles, and handsome princes, and beautiful princesses. Oh, yes, for a morning I became the heroine who woke from her dreams when the prince kissed her. Cinderella’s glass slipper fit my foot perfectly. The boy and girl always lived happily ever after. It was magic. I never read the books, but the visions of the characters were etched in my mind. I knew exactly what each one looked like.

Today, I believe the fairy tales I listened to in my early years were the beginning of my writing career. Though I don’t write fantasy, except for a ghost or two here and there, the stories from so long ago remind me that my protagonist must have a problem or a goal. She must want something desperately, or her problem must seem impossible to solve. The antagonist is the bad guy who tries to stop her from accomplishing her goal, the person who keeps putting obstacles in her path.

So do not despair, if you or someone you know is a reluctant reader. There is hope. Everyone can change. I’m proof. Now, when I’m not perched in front of my computer, typing the thoughts pouring from my head, my nose is in a book, reading another author’s beautiful prose. My only regret is that I didn’t discover the magic of books many years earlier.

Happy reading and writing to all.

Here's a synopsis of Beverly's newest historical fictional book for young adult readers, "Caves, Cannons, and Crinolines:

In May of 1863, fourteen-year-old Elizabeth (Lizzie) Stamford decides to enlist in the Confederate Army. Two incidents trigger her decision. First, for months General Ulyssus S. Grant and his Federal troops have been shelling Vicksburg, Mississippi. To control Vicksburg is to control the Mississippi River. Now, Vicksburg is under siege, cut off from the rest of the world.

Second, when a mortar shell strikes Lizzie’s bedroom, her mama, Susan, orders Lizzie and her younger brother, Nathan (Nat), to the cave that Lizzie’s papa, Dr. Charles Stamford, recently has had dug for their safety. Lizzie hates living underground. Her older brothers, Joseph and Willie, are with their regiment in Virginia, fighting for their cause in the Civil War. Can she do any less? So she makes her plans. Twelve-year-old Nat, however, keeps upsetting them.

Caves, Cannons, and Crinolines is the story of Lizzie Stamford and her family’s daily struggle to survive a changing way of life during the American Civil War. This is a story of fear, courage, and understanding that people, no matter where they live, have the same needs: love, peace and security.

Here's some links on where to find out more about Beverly and her books:http://beverlystowemcclure.wordpress.com

http://beverlystowemcclure.blogspot.com

http://lizzieswar.wordpress.com

Author Beverly Stowe McClure

I’m pleased to welcome children’s author Beverly Stowe McClure on my blog today. A self-proclaimed non-reader as a child, she nevertheless attended college and read hundreds of books! While teaching school and reading to her students, she discovered that reading is fun! She also started to write and was surprised that her stories and articles were published in leading children’s magazines. She is the author of four novels for teens.

Katie: Your tween/young adult contemporary story is entitled “Just Breeze.” Can you please give us a synopsis of this book?

Beverly: Eighth grade starts out the same as every other day for Breeze Brannigan. She’s still the tallest student, boy or girl, in her class, wears shoes that would fit an elephant, and her smile reveals dazzling braces that blind everyone within ten feet.

Then she meets Cam, the new boy in school, who speaks with an accent and must be from another planet, for none of the earthling boys she knows are so polite. He also has a secret that could mean life or death for Came and his mother, and that Breeze must help him keep.

Katie: After discovering that you loved to read, what prompted you to begin to write?

Beverly: I think reading fun stories in children’s magazines and Newbery winning books and seeing how much the students and my sons enjoyed them was the beginning. What if I could write stories and books that the kids liked and even helped reluctant readers discover the excitement of books? So I decided why not? I started with magazine articles first, since I’m interested in animals and science and had a lot of ideas from things we did in the classroon. Fiction soon followed. I’ve been writing ever since, and loving it.

Katie: What prompted you to write children’s stories specifically?

Beverly: I’m still a kid at heart. I loved teaching and the school environment. Kids are super. And frankly, children’s and teen’s stories appeal to me more than most books for adults. Maybe I’m just a simple person, or perhaps I don’t want to grow up.

Katie: Are you traditionally published? If so, what led you to your current publishing house?

Beverly: Yes, all but one of my books are traditionally published. Twilight Times Books, publisher of Listen to the Ghost, Rebel in Blue Jeans, and the forthcoming Caves, Cannons and Crinolines started as an e-publisher then went to print books in 2004. When I was looking for a publisher for my paranormal story, I saw TTB mentioned on a message board. They sounded right for my story, so I sent a query and a few months later had a contract.

Just Breeze, my latest novel for tweens or middle-grade readers is 4 RV Publishing, another traditional publisher. I heard about them at the Muse Conference and also noticed other children’s books they had published, such as Bubba and Giganto: Odds Against Us, that I reviewed. I really liked their books so sent them a query and now Breeze is out.

Katie: Do you have an agent? Why or why not?

Beverly: No, but it’s not from lack of trying. When I first started writing, many large houses accepted unagented work, and I wasn’t too concerned about having an agent. I just sent my manuscripts to the publishers. As you know, that has changed in the past few years, and it’s almost impossible to break into the “big” publishers without an agent. So I’m looking. Several have responded positively to the manuscript I’m shopping around, but haven’t signed me.

Katie: Breeze sounds like my kind of gal. What prompted you to create this character?

Beverly: I don’t know. This girl with the frizzy hair, who hates the way she looks, just popped into my head one day. From years of teaching I know how important “fitting in” is to most (not all) girls in elementary and middle school. So Breeze told me her troubles and I wrote them down.

Katie: What is a “typical” writing day like for you?

Beverly: My favorite day is when I can write and write and write and forget about the world. Unfortunately, that seldom happens. Usually, I check my emails first thing and reply to those that need attention right away. The others I wait until later in the day to answer. Sometimes several days later. I like to write on my current story from about 9 am to 11 or 12.

Afternoons are spent on promo: calling to book signings, typing media releases or brochures to mail, answering mail, blogging, and stuff like that. Saturdays are catch up days. I might work on a synopsis or character profiles, but mostly promo and keeping track of expenses and sales for the IRS. It never ends, but one day I will catch up.

Katie: For words of advice would you have for other writers who want to write for children?

Beverly: Basically, if you want to write for children then do it. Don’t let others tell you you’re too old, too young, too this or that. Just do it. Be patient. Be persistent. Be positive. And never, never give up. I tape “no thank you” letters where an editor has written nice remarks about my work or words of encouragement to the wall by my desk. They lift my spirits when I’m having a rough day. Hang in there. It’s a tough business, but one day, you’ll be glad you did. You can read my “Breakthrough” article in the June 2007 issue of the Writer magazine.

Katie: Thanks, Beverly, for being my guest today. For more information, check out Beverly’s sites: http://beverlystowemcclure.wordpress.com; http://justbreeze.wordpress.com; http://beverlystowemcclure.blogspot.com

Beverly: Thank you, Katie, for hosting me.