Last night I was the featured author for a local elementary school for their Literacy Program Night. It was fun to see the kids get into reading and they enjoyed it. I met some wonderful people. Even met a lady there that recognized me from my appearance from last month on a local tv show Studio 10, where I cooked a recipe from my cookbook. I had a awesome time meeting the kids and their parents. The kids were excited to meet a Real Author, more than their parents were. LOL .... I was invited back for their Fall Festival but not sure if I will be able to make it. The kids were so sweet and polite. The kids put on a little reading play that was just so adorable. I loved it. Had an awesome time! :) Mucha thanks goes out to Mrs. Bradley, she was teh sweet lady that contacted me to invite me for their Literacy Program Night. Mrs. Bradley is the reading teacher at the school. She was so happy to have me, a local author there for their program. And I was happy to be there and meet the kids and everyone involved with the Literacy Program for the kids! What an awesome thing to do for kids! Awesome Night! :)
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Interview by Ruthie Derby
Questions : 1. When you were 13, what kind of things were you writing? Ie: poetry, short stories, essays. Did you get any support from family? Answer : I was writing poetry at 13. Yes, my family supported me and they always have. 2 How do you find time writing since you have a family to take care of? Answer : I write every free minutes I get. Normally at night after they have went to bed and when they go fishing or hunting. 3 What got you interested in poetry? Who is your favorite poet? Answer : I wrote my first poem the day I lost my daddy when I was 13. Then it was like a storm rushed in and that is all I wrote until i turned 22 then I began writing my first romance book. I don't have a favorite poet. But if I had to choose ... it wuld be my Papa. Though he wasn't famous or published but I remember hime writing poetry when I was a kid. In fact, I think that I got my talent for writing poetry from my Papa ( may he r.i.p ) 4 What keeps you going when setback comes? You mentioned in your blog you have a hard time getting a book signing going. Answer : What keeps me going? Well, though I am having a hard time getting a book signing set up, that won't stop me from writing, no matter what the set backs are. I love to write. It's in my blood. God gave me my talent and I will use it every chance I get, no matter what!! 5 Who or what inspires you to write children''s fiction? Answer : My son Jacob was my inspiration for my children's picture books. His love for colors and adventures is what inspired me for my books. He was a child who was so adventurous and he amazed me when I would watch him play outside. Also, he was a typical child who lied, cheated, and stole things. So, therefore, my children's books are about teaching a child not to do these sort of things as well as teaching them to read and to use their imagination! 6 Your Author bio at Amazon.com states your passion is poetry and romance. Is there any Romance novels or stories in the works? Answer : Yes, there are several romance novels in the works. I have 2 possibly 3 that I am working on. 7 You are taking a sabbatical. Can you tell us what works in progress you have going? Answer : I sure can ... I am working on 2 more children's picture books, a second cookbook, a second poetry book, 2 romance books, a thriller book, a autobiography book, a suspence book. 8 You obviously love children, Have you thought about teaching? Answer : Yes, I do love children and Yes, I have thought about teaching. In fact, I was a pre-school teacher in the early 90's. I taught 3 & 4 year olds. It was amazing. 9 If you could meet any TV chef in America, who would it be and why? Answer : Paula Deen! Because I just love the fact that she is a southern cook like myself, and that she cooks simple southern food, just as I do. Also, I admire how she came from being a single mother, raising her boys and supporting them by selling lunchs and now she has her own Tv Cooking Show, her own cookbook, her own Restaurant, her own cook ware, and she does all this just by being herself and doing what she loves. She is an inspiration to me! 10 You waited 24 years to be a published author. What held you back? Answer : Good question. I didn't know how to go about getting my work published when I was younger and I always seemed to be overwhelmed with my child's disablilites and being his mother while he needed me. God knew what he was doing by waiting to give me my dream when he was ready not when I thought I was ready! I will be taking a leave of absence from Facebook on November 9,2012. It, Facebook, has become very distracting for me. I have 9 wips that I am currently working on and well, while chatting with my friends, family and fellow writers is fun and I enjoy it so, but I am lacking in my work as an author to get my projects complete. So, I am leaving for about a month, maybe two depending on how much work I actually get done on my wips. I would love to have all or at least half of my wips completed and submitted for publication before I return. However, I do hope that I can return to Facebook by December 9,2012. There's just so much that I have to do before I leave on 11-9-12. I pray that I can get it all done before then. Even though, I will be gone from FB for a while I will be in and out on my website. So, if anyone needs me or would just like to stay in touch with me while I am gone, you are welcome to message me here through the Contact Me link above. Thanks! I hope to hear from you soon. :)
I have been invited to be the Featured Author for Hollinger's Island Elementary School, on November 8,2012 at 5pm, for their Literary Program Night. I will be available to talk with kids and parents. I also will have a few of my cookbooks for sale, and to autograph. I will have a copy of each of my children's picture books and my poetry book for people to see what they are like. I will be handing out flyers and business cards also. I am looking forward to sharing my love for writing with children. After all reading is a huge part of the schools earning academics and learning to read and write well is the best way a person can express themselves and their choice to be a writer. I am really looking forward to this night.
I had an appearance on my local tv station's morning show, Studio 10, this morning! I was nervous but I think I did well. Although, I lost my train of thought once and the host Joe had to pick up where I left off. I felt a bit foolish and non-professional. But I did get comfortable by the second part of the cooking segment. I just hope that they liked my recipe once I left and they ate. I cooked a recipe from my cookbook >> Cooking with TLC! I cooked my Peppered Sausage Pasta! This was my first time to ever be in a studio on any network or tv station. It was strange but it was nice too. I met some very nice people there. I never wanted to be on tv but a friend of mine is friends with the cohost Cherish so that is how I was able to get a chance to be on live tv. I have to admit, I did feel a bit important this morning. But of course that feeling has gone away now. I am back to being just me... simple and southern me!! :) Life's Good :) God's Awesome :)
I have been invited to be a vendor at the "Breast Friends" Fashion Fundraiser to benefit Providence Hospital's "Breast Friends" Outreach Program. I am so excited. This is my second scheduled event that will be happening in October. The fall season is looking very promising for me and my writing career! I am floating on cloud 9 ... XD I will be selling and signing my cookbook > Cooking with TLC <. I will also have flyers and business cards to give out! Looking forward to this event. A good cause and a good opportunity to meet more people and to have people know about me and my books! XD
I have been invited to appear on my local tv morning show called >> Studio 10. I am a featured guest for the cooking segment. I will be cooking a recipe from my cookbook, COOKING with TLC. The show will air October 5,2012 at 8am-9am, locally. The tv channel is WALA Fox10. I am excited but yet I am nervous too. I do not like to be on cameras especially tv. And this will be LIVE TV!! So, everyone here in Alabama can watch me cook live! I have so much to do before the show. I pray that our Lord will give me the strength and courage to do this. I know that this will be a great way to promote my cookbook and myself as an Author! Maybe my sells of all four of my books will increase after this Live Show! Fingers crossed that all will be okay and go well for me! :)
Yesterday, I got an email from my publisher confirming that my second children's picture book >> JACOB and the TURTLE RACE << will be available soon. Also, before that email, I got the email to approve the text, illustrations and the cover art. I am so happy. I now have 4 books published and available to readers everywhere. I absolutely love the cover art and illustrations of both my children's picture books. Jared, the children's picture book illustrator, is awesome. He does fantastic work on these books. I will post pics of the cover soon. So, keep checking back to see the cover pic and for any other news I may post! :)
I am so happy to announce that Kimberly E. Collins was the Giveaway Winner of a FREE AUTOGRAPH COPY OF MY COOKBOOK > COOKING with TLC. The giveaway drawing was posted on my facebook authors page and ran for 2 weeks. It began 8/24/12 and ended 9/7/12. The winner was drawn and announced yesterday 9/8/12 on my authors page on facebook. Kim has been my childhood friend for over 30+ years. I am so happy that her name was drawn. Although, I wish I could have gave the same prize to each who entered my giveaway. Sadly, I can not! However, I do plan on having more contest/giveaways later on. CONGRATS KIM! I know you will cherish and love my cookbook forever. Love ya, girl! Thank you all who entered my giveaway. May each of you who entered be blessed and hopefully your name will be drawn in a giveaway later on! Thank you all! God Bless!
Trying to plan a book signing is more difficult that I had expected it to be. I have contacted my local libraries with no response from either one. I have contacted a few book stores, still no response. What am I doing wrong? I need a book signing so that I can get my books out in the public eyes, so that hopefully they will start selling. I personally think my books are great. A children's picture book, a poetry book and a cookbook! I am working on 7 more books but I am getting a bit aggravated and discouraged. I am at a loss right now on what I should do next. I tell people about my books. My husband tells people about my books and my mom tells people to about my books, she even passes out my business cards. So, I would like to know what I am doing wrong and what I should do next? Can anyone answer my questions? Probably not! Feeling very disappointed and down more than ever right now.
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AuthorWelcome to my site. I am a writer. I write poetry & children's stories. I also write romance stories. I am also a wife & mother, First & Foremost! Writing has always been my passion! I hope you'll enjoy my site & I hope you'll visit again soon. Read America! |
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