5 quick questions for a children’s book author

BritMums is delighted to take part in the virtual book tour with Coleen Paratore, a children’s book author who has a new book called BIG, published by Little Pickle Press. BIG challenges young readers to find small ways to make a big difference. We asked Coleen our 5 most burning questions about writing for children. Here’s what she had to say:

1. To start off, can you tell us a bit about how you got into writing children’s books?

I’ve been a book lover for my entire life.  When my three sons were young I read to them every day, every night, story after story after story.  At some point I began getting ideas for stories of my own.

2. Writers are often told that children’s book writing is a completely different skill from writing for adults. Do you agree and if so, how does it differ?

A different skill? Hmm … I don’t know about that. For me, as a writer, I trust when I get a firefly spark that feels so bright I just know it’s the start of a book, then I show up on the page and see what comes. So far, my 17 books have been “classified” as being for younger readers, but they have great appeal with adults as well.  A good book is a good book.

3. What prompted you to write BIG? Where do you get your ideas from?

I’ve always been intrigued with the idea of how we become our best selves. Around Thanksgiving one year I was out jogging and heard the line “when you were little, you couldn’t wait to be big…” and that’s when BIG decided to be born. I get my best ideas while running or driving long distances in my car, when my mind is free and wide open spaces are outstretched before me.

4. What is the hardest part of writing children’s books, for you?

Wishing I could spend more time answering the great questions children send me in a more in-depth fashion. I do respond with gratitude and hopefully in an encouraging, inspirational fashion to every email and letter I receive. While writing is my greatest love, a close second is teaching and I treasure the quality time I can spend with children when I’m invited for a school visit.

5. What are your top tips for budding children’s book authors? Got suggestions on pitfalls to avoid or absolute must-dos?

Read, read, read all the best books of the past and of today. And write, write, write. Check out the page Top Ten Tips on my website, www.coleenparatore.com for my best advice on breaking in. Good luck!

See the book:

The BIG picture book

Get the Kindle e-book

Little Pickle Press creates free teaching lesson plans for its award-winning books. Check them out, including the BIG lesson plan

About Jennifer Howze

Jennifer Howze is the Creative Director and co-founder of BritMums. She blogs about family travel at Jenography.net, tweets at @JHowze and Instagrams at @JHowze. Previously, she wrote the Alpha Mummy blog at The Times and as a journalist has contributed to The Times, The Guardian, The Independent, The Wall Street Journal, Travel & Leisure, Budget Travel, CNN.com, Allure, SELF and Premiere, among others. She won The Maggie Award from the Planned Parenthood Federation of America for a health article in Seventeen magazine.

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