Greetings, Noters!
The countdown to #TagMe for Murder is officially ON! As we speak, I am reviewing the final proof pages for the interior of the book, and I have to say, I am just beyond excited for Coco’s next adventure to be out in the world. I also received word that the audiobook version is already in the works, so we’ll see the audiobook release soon, as well!
I just had to share this amazing 5-star review from bookstagrammer @jessas_books. When I read this, it seriously brought tears to my eyes.
This is the second book in the #trendingtopicsmystery series. I am absolutely in love with the series, I even paused another book I was reading to jump into this one! Coco is back and even has a slightly new sidekick, who I am very glad to see from book #1. @authorsaraheburr this book is full of warmth, justice and social commentary. I have no idea how you managed to address such serious topics in such a fun, can’t-put-it-down book but you made it work. I am legitimately counting down the days until book #3. @levelbestbooks you clearly have a hit series on your hands with #trendingtopics mystery series! (Also I love the cover art, it makes the book feel like the curated instas that coco is alway talking about). #perfectbeachbook is an understatement, run to your local bookstore and grab this one!
Jessa’s comment about warmth, justice, and social commentary really hit hard. While #TagMe for Murder is a murder mystery at heart, I also want my work to have a positive impact and maybe make a difference in someone’s life. Perhaps encourage us all to be a bit kinder to one another?
Whatever your takeaway from #TagMe for Murder is, I hope you have fun hanging out with Coco and her crew.
My featured author this week is another Noteworthy first — a children’s book author!
Without further ado…
A Bit About the Author: Central Illinois author, Debra Daugherty, enjoys eating cold pizza for breakfast, watching PBS mysteries, and taking her dog Honey on car rides. Debra dedicated THE MEMORY JAR, her picture book about dementia, to a beloved aunt who had Alzheimer’s. Debra's next picture book with Young Dragons Press, GRANDPA'S BARN, has a tentative August 2024 release date. She's the network representative for the SCBWI-Illinois Springfield area and has a literary agent, Dawn Dowdle, of the Blue Ridge Literary Agency. A fun fact: Debra has kissed the Blarney Stone, but admits she has always had the gift of gab.
Debra, thank you for spending some time with us here on Noteworthy. It’s exciting to have a children’s book author stop by! I’m sure for many of us, our love of reading was cultivated by picture books. What book made you first fall in love with reading?
Little Women by Louisa May Alcott. It was my first big person’s book. After reading about the March girls, their hardships, and adventures, I was hooked. And I wanted to be like Jo, who was brave, smart, and wrote stories.
I, too, was a big fan of the March sisters, although I could never get over Teddy and Jo not being together LOL I threw a bit of a fit when I came to that part. It began my unfortunate habit of shipping the wrong couple. How did your love of reading evolve into a love of writing?
Reading was my escape to other worlds, amazing adventures, and mysterious quests. I’d spend hours with a book in my hands. My parents worried because I was reading so much, like parents worry today about their children who spend so much time on video games, their phones, or the Internet.
I believe reading and writing go hand in hand. Reading opens our minds to ideas, and writing is when we put these ideas on paper. Having encouragement helps, too.
I credit a grade school teacher for instilling in me the desire to keep writing. A shoutout to all teachers! They are the best!
How did you begin your writing journey?
My grade school published a monthly newspaper with stories and poems written by the students. Every month, I’d submit something I wrote, hoping it’d be chosen. Seeing my work in print made me want to keep writing.
When older, I wrote children’s stories for my nieces and nephews. They loved my fairy tales. When I babysat for my neighbors’ children, I’d tell my stories to them at bedtime. They begged for more, but I realize now they were probably only trying to stay up longer.
It wasn’t until 2012, after joining the SCBWI (the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators), that I wrote earnestly. It’s because I now had a roadmap of how to write children’s stories. The conferences, webinars, and monthly meetings I attended taught me how to format a story, write a synopsis, revise my work, and how to write and send a query letter. After joining this organization, my writing improved. Although I had many, many, many rejections, (you all know what I’m talking about), I also had some pieces published online, a picture book, a YA novel, and a couple of short stories. This encouraged me to keep writing.
You’re the first children’s book author to visit Noteworthy. What drew you to this genre?
I love children’s stories. They are filled with heart. Some are silly, some are sad. They teach lessons in a subtle way. They can make a child laugh out loud. To be able to write a story that can bring a smile to a child’s face, or make their imaginations soar, is a miraculous thing. I wanted to do that. And I’m a child at heart. I write as much for me as I do for children.
Tell us more about your character, Amelia. How did she first introduce herself to you?
Amelia’s Grammy has dementia. My aunt had Alzheimer’s. In a way, Amelia is me.
When my Aunt Luella started showing signs of dementia, I passed it off as old age. She was in her 90’s. But she progressively grew worse, until she forgot all the people in her life. All the wonderful memories of her family, her husband, and her home disappeared.
I remember being upset, confused, and even scared as I watched my aunt’s whole life fade away. I wanted to help her, and that is what Amelia wanted to do for her Grammy. She wanted to find a way to help her remember, if only for a short while.
You take a heartbreaking subject and explore it beautifully. I love how children’s books can educate young people about the challenges in life. It also gives them a sense of hope.
A fun fact about Amelia. Originally, I called this character Elsie. But Elsie didn’t seem to fit. To find a new name, I googled popular girl names in 2008, which was ten years prior to the year I wrote the story, in 2018. I imagined the girl in the story to be ten, and wanted to see what names popped up for when my character would have been born. When I saw the name Amelia, it clicked.
Amelia was the name of my American Girl doll growing up, and she later became the heroine of the first book I ever wrote (a fantasy behemoth that has yet to see the light of day). Do you have any advice for aspiring children’s book authors?
Join a writing organization such as SCBWI. Find critique partners. Attend writing conferences and webinars. Read books about your craft. A wonderful book for picture book writers is Ann Whitford Paul’s Writing Picture Books, A Hands on Guide From Story Creation to Publication.
It’s helpful to have a social media presence where you can connect with other writers and illustrators, such as Twitter and #MightyKidLit. Also, subscribe to other authors’ blogs, such as Sarah’s. Reading about the journeys of other writers, their ups and downs, will give aspiring writers hope that a publishing career is possible for them.
Keep writing, and don’t give up! Only you can make your dream happen, but you have to work for it.
What’s your favorite way to unwind after a tough writing session?
I love a glass of hot tea. Not a mug, a big glass. If there’s something chocolate in the house, that’s a bonus.
Tell us three things that are always on your writing desk/writing space.
I’m looking around at my desk right now to see. I have pens and papers to jot down notes and ideas, and there’s always a glass of water or iced tea to quinch my thirst.
What is your favorite, can’t-live-without writing tool?
I rely on the Spelling & Grammar, and Thesaurus in Word. There are times I’m not certain how to spell a word. I have a dictionary on my desk that I use, (Oooh! Another item on my desk!) but it’s quicker to highlight my word and see if I spelled It correctly, or view what options the spell-check gives. I often use Thesaurus to find a better word choice. For example, the word run has over 170 words to choose from. Sprinted, jogged, scampered all sound better than run.
Scampered is such a good word! I love the Thesaurus, too. All right, Debra, your final question is here. It’s vacation time. What literary hero do you enlist to be your travel companion? Why
I love Jane Austen’s books. It’s sad she only published six. My favorite is Pride and Prejudice, and Elizabeth Bennet is my favorite character. She was a woman ahead of her times. I’d love to travel through England with Miss Bennet, and see the countryside and the historical sites through her eyes. I’ve toured London, and traveled through England, but I’m sure a vacation with Elizabeth would be so much more fun, especially if Mr. Darcy came with us.
Lizzie Bennet for the win! I love all things Pride & Prejudice — there’s even a mystery series featuring Elizabeth and Darcy solving crimes together. For a mystery writer, what could be more fun? Debra, thank you so much for spending time with me here on Noteworthy.
Thank you so much, Sarah, for having me on your blog. You asked some great questions. It was an honor being the first picture book author that you interviewed.
Noters, please check out Debra’s book, The Memory Jar — it might be the perfect gift for the little one in your life!
The Memory Jar: Amelia's grandmother doesn't remember her because she has dementia, but Amelia is determined to find a way to help. She knows that if she can get her grandmother to talk about the stories she told Amelia over the years, then it will help bring the memories back and make all of them happy. Amelia comes up with a clever plan to assist her grandmother...but will it be enough?