I thought it may be fun to interview some people trying to make it in the publishing world. Hopefully I’ll get some people who are successful and will share with us their wonderous secrets.
So, up first is Jim Hill. He has a heavy traffic blog at www.Heyjimhill.com. Jim is an amazing artist and writer. He creates characters with a presuming innocence while their lives are in an uproar.
Have you been published?
No. I’m embarrassed to admit this, but I haven’t even submitted anything. Yet. Check back soon.
What are you working on now?
I have two picture books in the works and a middle-grade novel. I usually try to write funny stories, but one of the picture books is about mourning the loss of a loved one. It just popped out of me and has become the story that most-wants-to-be-written. By that I mean it’s the one that nags at me the most and demands my attention.
Plenty of hijinks in the other two though. I won’t become a maudlin fellow.
Who is your favorite children’s book character and why?
Max from “Where the Wild Things Are”. My sister gave me that book when I was five or six. It was the first book that was mine alone, not a hand-me-down or library book. I also relate to Max’s need to get wild, but ultimately come home and be safe.
Close runner-ups are Bilbo Baggins and Peter Parker (although technically he’s not a children’s book character).
What do you think is the most important thing to know in the writing/publishing industry?
Other writers. Working alone only gets you so far. You need other writers to read your work and give you honest criticism so you can make your work the best it can be.
Where is your favorite patch of sand and what do you love about it?
My favorite is Long Beach in Centerville. It’s a “residents only” beach with two tiny parking lots, no lifeguards, no beach house, no amenities. Pack smartly! It’s a bit tougher with a toddler but it can be done. Backpack with snacks, icepacks, water and books. Towels over the shoulder, beach blanket under the arm, diaper bag. Isaac carries his bucket and toys. If you can’t carry it, you can’t have it. It builds character. For all of us.
As a bonus, Four Seas Ice Cream is on the way home. Nothing clears the salty beach taste out better than your favorite ice cream.