Spotlight Interview with author Wanda Bobo

Q1: Thanks for participating in our Authors.com Spotlight Interview series! Please introduce yourself and your book to help our readers get to know you.
A: Hi, I am Wanda Bobo and my first book is Chickendoodle! Where Are You?  My sister, M.S. Bottoms is the illustrator.  I live in Arkansas with my husband.  The book is for children 4-8 years old.  It is also a good easy-reader book for older children who are having difficulty reading at their grade level.  This book will help them have self-confidence and hopefully encourage them to read more books.  I hope through reading my book that children everywhere will walk away with a joyful feeling and want to read more books as they grow older.

Q2: Please explain how you came to be a writer, what inspired you to write your book(s) and how long it took.
A: As a young child, I loved to read.  I had plenty of time to read as in my age group, we didn't have much but black and white TV and no cable or satellite.  Electronic games and things were not around.  Since my dad raised me by himself, I didn't have anyone to play with much so enjoyed my time reading.  I would read for hours at a time. My mom had 7 other children from a different marriage to take care of and I only got to see them once in a while.

I had two sisters and five brothers.  My husband and I went to visit my sister in Louisiana in 2009.  She is an artist and I told her I had written a children's story and asked her if she would be interested in reading the story and putting some illustrations with it to bring the story to life.  She agreed and since 2009 we have both worked hard on getting the book ready for publishing.

Q3: What did you enjoy most about creating this book?
A. The most enjoyable part was working with my sister on the book.  I enjoyed her input and working with the illustrations she sent me.  The pictures she drew made the book so much more interesting.  I also worked on the book with the intent of helping children learn to read and enjoy reading instead of hating to pick up a book to read because it was too difficult for them to read.

Q4: What facets of your life, both personal and professional, are woven into your book, if any?
A. My husband and I have three children, all grown now.  Watching my children struggle with reading at their grade level really hurt.  I thought that maybe one day, I would be able to write a book just for children with not so difficult words and therefore increase their love of reading a book.

Q5. How did you get published?

 A. Trafford Publishing is the publishing company.  I had in the past written several stories and sent out query letters to no avail.  So when we finished the book, we decided it was worth publishing even if we had to self-publish the book. 

Q6: Did you have any surprises or hiccups along the way during the book writing and/or publishing process?
A. Yes.  At first, I had put all the illustrations in the manuscript where I wanted them.  I was dismayed when I was told to have all the illustrations in a separate file and that there were not supposed to be any headers or page numbers.  Getting all the pictures out and putting place holders in their place took a lot of time.

Q7: What one thing did you wish you'd known before you started this project?
A. Wish I had known that the manuscript was only to be written continuously with place holders only for illustrations.  Also, they needed all the illustrations to be in 300 dpi resolution or there was a charge to convert them.  I did get them converted after several long hours at the computer.

Q8: You're a fly on the wall when readers are discussing your book. What would you hope to hear them say about it?
A. My deepest desire is to hear that this book was easy for them to read and they would love to see more books like this on the market.

Q9: Tell us one thing about you that most people don't know or would surprise them.
A. I love to sew when I have time.

Q10: What single piece of advice would you give new authors?
A. Try and try again.  Don't ever give up your dream of writing.

Q11: Share a short summary of a typical day in your life with us please.

A. My husband and I always start the mornings off drinking coffee in bed.  We take turns getting the coffee. I got this from my mother and her husband when my dad and I visited them.  They would invite us to sit in chairs and my mom and her husband would sit in bed and we would all join in talking. Then I usually go about the regular duties of housework and when I can find a few minutes in between, I get myself lost in writing.  I love to write now and when I can get a moment to write it is certainly a pleasure.  We are a close family and try and get together as much as possible.

Q12: Describe where you do most of your writing. What would I see if I was sitting beside you?
A. You would see a cluttered up room with a bookcase, computer, printer, and sewing machine.  I work in a spare bedroom but it is crowded with all kinds of stuff.  But that doesn't bother me when I am writing.

Q13: What's your motto or favorite quote you like to live by?

A. Always be kind and gentle to everyone and everything you meet in life.

Q14: Is there anything else you'd like to share with us in closing such as your website, an imminent book launch or what you're working on presently?
A. My website is ChickendoodleWhereAreYou.yolasite.com

Thanks for your time Wanda! Please share this Authors.com Spotlight Interview with friends and fans by linking to it, Tweeting it, Digging it, sharing it on Facebook and generally shouting about it anywhere you can.

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