Today I'm honored to be interviewed by Hamline Master of Fine Arts in writing for Children faculty member Marsha Qualey at The Storyteller’s Inkpot.
I love my Hamline MFAC community!
Here is an excerpt:
1. Please describe the book.
In THIS OLD BAND, a ragtag band of cowboys and a cowgirl dance, play their instruments, and make noise out on the open range while they count down from ten to one all day and night to the tune of a familiar folk song.
2. As the story progressed from inception to copy-edited version, what were the major changes?
This was always a counting concept book that featured rugged westerners, but initially I envisioned a story that included a duel. After many attempts and rewrites over a number of years, it became clear to me that these characters did not want to fight; they wanted to play!
How did those changes come about?
I started to think harder about concept books, what made them work, and what I had loved to sing or chant when I was young...