Inside The Indie Author: A Conversation with Christine Devane

Have you ever considered writing under a pseudonym, and why or why not?

No, I want people to know that I am writing children’s books, because I am very proud of them.

What is your “go-to” method for working through or around writer’s block?

Taking a break! Sometimes I can sit and stare at the computer forever and nothing comes to my mind. Then I have to leave what I am working on and go do something else, go for a walk, watch a show, anything to get my mind off the project. Then either the next day or later I come back to the project with some new ideas.

From your perspective, what are the most important elements of good writing?

It is extremely important to get feedback on your work. You might think your project is amazing, but it is important to have at least one person review and edit it. This should not be a family member or friend, but someone who will give you the truth.

What comes first – the location, the plot, or the characters – and why?

For me the characters have always come first. I think of who I want to write a story about, then the story comes next. Everyone is different though.

What are your least favorite and most favorite things about publishing a book?

My least favorite is marketing the book. There are so many scammers out there who try to sell you the dream. It is a lot of emailing and reaching out to people. My favorite part is reading the book to kids. I love seeing how happy my books make them.

What is a significant way your book changed from the first to the final draft?

The word count. I had to keep going back and taking out unnecessary words.

What was the inspiration for your most recent book?

My most recent book Lola & Sophie’s ABC Adventure was inspired by my kids and my dogs. My kids love alphabet books and they are such a great way to teach early literacy skills that I wanted to write my own. Sophie is my rescue dog and Lola is a chihuahua I had that passed away. Their personalities are so different I thought it would be funny to imagine the two of them as friends teaching the alphabet.

What is a “darling” you’ve killed in a book that you’d like to resurrect in a future book?

I don’t think I have one.

Where are your most productive writing spaces, and what elements are important about that space to keep you focused on writing?

The most productive writing space I have is my desk, once my kids are in bed. I need complete quiet to focus, so I like to do a lot of writing at night when everyone is sleeping.

If you were to give one of your side characters a novella of their own, who would it be, and why do you think they need their own story?

I think one of the elephants in Elephant Beach could have their own story. In Elephant Beach the elephants do not have names and they become friends with the girl, who is the main character. The elephants are very welcoming and fun, which would make for a nice main character in another book.

What risks have you taken with your writing that made the book better?

I think I have taken risks by just trusting the story idea, not everyone loves elephants but I figured the story would resonate with some people.

What’s the best monetary investment you’ve ever made with regard to your writing practice?

Joining the SCBWI (The Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators) is a great investment and I love going to their conferences. I am going to one in NYC in January. It is just nice to be around other authors and you can also sign up for workshops and one-on-one consultations.

When you first began writing, what was a common procrastination trap you encountered, and how did you overcome it?

I would do everything else before sitting down and writing, but then sometimes I would be too tired to write. Now I am better at managing my time and setting aside time for writing. If everything else isn’t done, like laundry or other

household chores they can wait until after. I just had to learn that I have to schedule in my writing time and not put it off.

What is your writing software of choice, and what is its best feature?

I just use Word, nothing fancy.

Do characters’ names come immediately to you? Do you add them in a final draft? Where do you find names, and how do you make a final decision about the names you’ll use?

The names of my characters all come from people in my life, either pets, friends or

family.

Tell us the title of one of your favorite novels, and why this book is a favorite.

The Secret Garden is one of my favorite novels and I can remember reading it when I was younger.

Think of the title of a hugely popular novel. What is one major thing you would change about the book?

I love Water For Elephants because I am an elephant lover myself, but I would change the fact that the circus is bringing excitement to Jacob at the nursing

home, since the circus was not such a great place for the animals. I think the story could show him going to visit animals in a kinder environment than one where they were abused.

What are you reading right now?

Mostly picture books with my kids before bedtime. The boys are very into the Grumpy Monkey Series, while my daughter loves the Little Mermaid books.

If you could take on the identity of a character in one of your favorite books for twenty-four hours and retain the memory of that experience, which character would you choose? Tell us the title, author, character name, and why you would want to be that character.

I would love to be Strega Nona by Tomie DePaola because I am sure that she

knows more magic than she shows in the books. I think it would be fun to have some sort of magical power.

If you could save five books from being destroyed in the apocalypse, what books would you choose, and why?

1. Go, Dog Go- This was the first book I can remember reading.

2. The Secret Garden- This was one of my favorite books growing up.

3. Little Blue Truck- My children love this book.

4. If You Give A Mouse A Cookie- I loved reading this book in school when I taught.

5. Strega Nona- I loved this book and I met Tomie DePaola a few years ago before he passed.

Tell us a little something about your current WIP. When do you expect it to be released?

My next project Grandpadolly is coming out in the spring. It is a picture book loosely based around my relationship with my grandpa and a doll that he gave me. The book focuses on grief and how the little girl deals with the grandpa’s passing. When I was teaching I found only a few books on grief even though so many children experience it, so I wrote my own.

What are the titles and genres of each book you’ve written?

1. Elephant Beach, picture book

2. Lola & Sophie’s ABC Adventure picture book

How can readers find you? Website, social media, amazon author page… share all the links!

Elephant Beach | Christine Devane

Instagram- stined13

Amazon.com: Christine Devane: books, biography, latest update