The Next Big Thing (part deux)

Author, Jo Kittinger

     I am delighted to share my space with a wonderful children's author, Jo Kittinger, who also happens to be the Co-Regional Advisor of the Southern Breeze Region of  SCBWI. 
Jo has written some FABULOUS picture books (see them listed below) and her "Next Big Thing" sounds amazing. Let me turn this over to Jo and her 10 question answers.

What is your working title of your book? 

HELPING A HERO

Where did the idea come from for the book?

I was brainstorming with Tony Barash about what subject should be a follow up story to A BREATH OF HOPE, dealing with some legally related topic. We decided to go with a Post Traumatic Strees Syndrome storyline, offering help for those dealing with war-related stress. Tony is the impetus behind the series, which has been picked up by the American Bar Association.
 

What genre does your book fall under?  

Good question! It's a fiction picture book, but with a definite intent to educate. A page of back matter will offer information for those dealing with PTSD.

*** Wow Jo! I really respect your choice of tackling PTSD for children. There are many children of returning service men and women, I imagine, that are living with these issues in their families. How wonderful to provide them with a resource. Gail

Which actors would you choose to play your characters in a movie rendition? 

I'm afraid I don't know any male child Latino actors to play my main character. For the friend's uncle who has PTSD, perhaps Eion Bailey.

What is the one-sentence synopsis of your book?  

Cristian helps his friend, Brie, get help for her uncle who is suffering from PTSD.

Will your book be self-published or represented by an agency? 

It will be published by the American Bar Association.

How long did it take you to write the first draft of your manuscript?  

One day . . .  after weeks of thinking about it.

What other books would you compare this story to within your genre? 

I wish I could think of something other than my own book, A BREATH OF HOPE. I'm just not aware of other fictional picture books that are explicit in their purpose of teaching about a topic. I enjoy writing both fiction and nonfiction, and this blend of both satisfies both those pleasures.

*** Bravo for filling a need in children's literature. It's important tfor kids to see themselves in the stories they read. Gail

Who or what inspired you to write this book?  

Reading about the vast numbers of our servicemen and women who are struggling with PTSD was a major influence -- then, knowing one soldier and the issues he faced after returning from Afganistan, along with other individuals that deal with other mental illnesses. Individuals who return from war with physical injuries get medals, while those who live with mental injuries are often misunderstood and underserved.

What else about your book might pique the reader’s interest? 

 There are service dogs who are trained to help servicemen and women with PTSD. The dogs help the soldiers stay connected with "reality". That's pretty cool!

*** Doesn't it amaze you how many types of jobs dogs can do to help humans? Gail

Thanks for the opportunity to participate, Gail!!

Jo 

Thank you, Jo. I can hardly wait to get a copy of this book!

And check over at Cathy Hall's blog to read her "Next Big Thing" post.  -
 

Books Jo Kittinger has authored:

A BREATH OF HOPE

THE HOUSE ON DIRTY-THIRD STREET

ROSA'S BUS: THE RIDE TO CIVIL RIGHTS
www.jokittinger.com

Write From the Soul

Welcome today children's author, Doraine Bennett!     
          *applause, applause*

Thanks for including me in your "Global Explorer" tour!

Thanks for hosting me, Gail :-)

I've got lots of questions for you so let's begin.
    
Please tell us a little about yourself, including how you came to write for the educational market.

I sort of stumbled into the educational market. I homeschooled my four children for thirteen years. During that time, I spent hours every year searching through publisher catalogs for the best resources. When my youngest child started public high school, I went back to college and completed a degree in professional writing. The focus here was always nonfiction, and my professor was a stickler about keeping records and learning to write for a target audience. I did take creative writing classes, as well.

One day out of the blue, an acquaintance who has since become a good friend, called and asked me if I'd like to take over her job as a sales rep for a book jobber. I said yes. So for four years, I've been selling books into schools to both library and curriculum buyers. I sell from over a hundred publishers, and though I don't know all their catalogs by heart, I have a better understanding of what's out there than most writers. I asked my friend why she was giving up her job. The reply was that shehad stumbled on a hole in the market. National publishers don't publish books for state history standards because they can't sell them in more than one state, in most cases. So she started her own publishing house, State Standards Publishing, and I write for her.

 How extensive was your research for this reader's theater?

Massive. I had no idea what I was biting off when I started. The book covers 45 explorers, and I couldn't write a script that included one without researching them. There's an extensive bibliography in the back.

Did you have any input about which explorers to cover?

 I chose them based on continents. I wanted at least a few explorers from each area. I also tried to space them out over time. Sometimes it was a difficult decision to know who to include and who to leave out. Sometimes availability of primary source materials was a factor.

What age range or grade levels is your reader's theater for?

It's designed for students in fourth through eighth grade. These are the grades students in most states study the explorers. But it could go higher if someone in high school wanted to use it.

 You have great extension activities (I think I actually did some similar ones when I was teaching)! Were you responsible for creating these activities?

I did create them myself. As I said earlier, I was a homeschool mom, so I have lots of experience coming up with meaningful projects to accompany a lesson.

Okay, the big question...where can I buy a copy of this book? The snippets I got to read have left me wanting to read all about these explorers!

You can purchase it straight from the publisher at
http://lu.com/showbook.cfm?isbn=9781598845150.http://lu.com/showbook.cfm?isbn=9781598845150.

There's also a Kindle edition available on Amazon.
http://www.amazon.com/Readers-Theatre-Global-Explorers-ebook/dp/B004H1TD7O/ref=dp_olp_1

Are you writing exclusively for the educational market and if not, are you currently working on any fiction?

I just finished a set of books on the Virginia geographic regions for my editor at State Standards. They should be out in late spring. I'm working on a nonfiction picture book that would fit into both the educational and the trade markets. I'm in revisions and it's being a bugaboo at the moment. I also am working on revisions for a middle grade novel set in 1970 when the Supreme Court made enforced busing a tool for desegregating schools. I also have a devotional book for middle grade readers coming out with Christian Focus Publishing. I'm
not sure when the release date is yet, but I just saw the cover last week and I love it.

Last question, what's your absolute, most favorite part about being a writer?

One of my favorite things is that I'm always learning something new. I love research and libraries. It's not always easy to know when to stop. And then there is the hope that you are creating something that will instill a love of the subject in a new reader.

Wow, thank you Doraine, for the interview. Enjoy the rest of your blog tour! Please check back in, if you have time, to catch questions in the comment section.