Q&A with author Darleen Bailey Beard

I was inspired to write in fifth grade, when my teacher, Mrs. Jacqui Schickling, would ask us to write stories with our spelling words. Each Monday, she’d give us 20 new words, and each Monday, my classmates would complain, “Nooo. Not again! We have to write another story?” But I LOVED writing and Mrs. Schickling would ask me to stand in front of our class and read my stories. That’s when I realized words have power, and I decided right then to become a writer when I grew up. My first book, "The Pumpkin Man from Piney Creek", is dedicated to this teacher and I’m so lucky I still have the stories I wrote in her class to show during my author visits.

It varies for each book but basically, I start with an idea that I find interesting. I add characters to bring this idea to life. Then, I develop conflict for my characters to overcome and a solution that’s real and believable. If this sounds easy, it’s because I haven’t mentioned all the writing, rewriting, revising, editing, and crumbling-it-up-and-starting-all-over-again that goes into writing a book. Then, after I sell the book, there’s even more editing, revising, and rewriting before the book goes to print. 

Oh, gosh! This is like asking me ‘Which of your children is your favorite and why?’I love ALL my books, even my books that haven’t sold to publishers. But that said, my prettiest book is "Twister", a picture book illustrated by Nancy Carpenter, about a brother and sister who experience a twister alone in their cellar. I say it’s my prettiest because it’s a beautiful blend of imagery, words, and watercolor. I’m very proud of this book and it has sold almost 100,000 copies so far!

Read, read, read. Write, write, write. The more you immerse yourself into the world of writing, the better you will become at it. I’d also say to take classes, go to conferences, rub elbows with fellow writers, make writing a priority, and believe in yourself. They say it takes an average of seven years to sell your first book. It took me six-and-a-half years and submissions to 24 publishers. I always tell my students to believe in the “3 Ps” - perseverance, perspiration, and postage!

Normally, I write books for children. I currently have two picture books, two chapter books, a biography, an easy-reader, and two novels. But now I’m writing a memoir for adults. I’m really enjoying the challenge. Seven months ago, my nearly 93-year-old dad died which has given me freedom to write about growing up in the 1960s with him as my dad. To put it lightly, he was not your normal, everyday type of dad, making him both interesting and harrowing to write about. 

I think the best way to connect with readers is to be honest with them, to share my stories in a vulnerable way that touches their hearts and makes them laugh or cry or think about things in a new light. Also, I try to use the five senses in my writing because this is how readers connect with books - through what they see, hear, taste, touch, and smell. When I wrote my chapter book, "The Flimflam Man", I made sure every chapter had at least three of the five senses in it so readers would relate.

I’ve been doing school author visits and hands-on writing workshops with students throughout the US for over 30 years now. I LOVE what I do, so why stop? I offer over 42 workshops, listed on my website and I’m adding to this number all the time. My workshops teach the skills students are tested upon: expository, persuasive, descriptive, and narrative. I use videos, food, music, books, silly costumes, whatever it takes to get them writing. Empowering them to be confident writers is what it’s all about. You see, I can talk about writing all day, but showing how to write is magical! 

Keep reading, keep writing, keep submitting to publishers, and keep believing in yourself. Statistics say that 89% of people want to write a book but only 3% do. So, write that book and believe in yourself because you have a story that no one else can write but YOU!

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Darleen’s books have received starred and boxed reviews, been chosen as a Junior Library Guild selection, a “Best Book of the Year” by the Bank Street College of Education, a “100 Books to Read” by the New York Public Library, have won the Oklahoma Book Award, the Gamma State Author Award, the National Green Earth Book Award, the Amelia Bloomer Award, and have been nominated for numerous children’s choice awards and Battle-of-the-Books awards. Two of her books have been turned into plays and one of her books was featured on the TV show, "Discover Oklahoma".

Let us know if Darleen has visited your school or which one of her books is your favorite in the comments 😊

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I like to use the Young Writers contests when I teach writing workshops. It's fun to let the students know they can enter in the contests to win prizes and possible publication. The contests are fun and interesting to students of all grades, and the short videos are so fun for students to watch while they don't take up much of my teaching time. Thanks for putting on such fun contests that intrigue student writers and challenge their writing skills! by Darleen Bailey Beard - 05-10-2024 02:19