Three Times a Charm with author Janet Collins

Three Times a Charm is a weekly feature that spotlights authors, illustrators, bloggers, agents, editors or promoters from the publishing industry.

This week we are joined by children’s author, Janet Collins. Janet is one of the few authors in this world who I’ve met in person when she was here in Central Oregon. I’m thrilled to host her on Three Times.
 
Janet Ann Collins used to write feature articles for a newspaper in the San Francisco Bay area and her work has appeared in many other publications including Parents' Press, Bay Area Parent, Sunshine Magazine, Mailbox for Teachers, as well as several anthologies. Once she even won a local poetry contest.
 
Besides teaching in schools, Collins has taught introductory classes in American Sign Language for adults and led many workshops at various conferences. She worked in the dormitories at California School for the Deaf for many years and, with her husband, raised three deaf foster sons in addition to a birth daughter.
 
She is available for local speaking engagements and willing to consider writing assignments.
             
For more information please go to www.janetanncollins.com and visit her blog, http://onwordsblog.blogspot.com.

Janet, I know you’ve been extra busy lately, but you’ve had another book released. Tell us about your work.

I’m the author of three books for children, The Peril of the Sinister Scientist, Secret Service Saint, and Signs of Trouble. My latest release, Signs of Trouble, is about kids who get separated from their class on a field trip. After the exciting story Signs of Trouble includes educational material that helps kids learn to recognize signs, remember safety rules, and appreciate people who are different from themselves.



Now, for the Threes. Share with us your top 3’s to help us know you a little better.


  • Top 3 blogs you follow.

http://www.booksandsuch.biz/blog
http://www.bloggingbistro.com
http://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/psychological-solution-bullying


  • Top 3 leisure activities.

My top 3 leasure activities are reading, going for walks, and hanging out with friends and family.


  • Top 3 most admired authors.

I admire more authors than I can count, but three of my favorites who write for kids are Bruce Coville, Lee Roddy, and Margaret Peterson Haddix.

Many an hour on the road has been filled with the Haddix books on cd. My family and I love the Shadow Children series.

Janet, where can we find out more about you and your writing?
           
People can contact me through my website, www.janetanncollins.com
https://www.facebook.com/janetanncollins or
http://www.linkedin.com/in/janetanncollins
My blog is http://onwordsblog.blogspot.com/

It has been a pleasure getting to know Janet a little bit better. Thanks for stopping into Three Times A Charm. Best of luck with your writing!

Involved in children’s publishing? Have something to promote? If you’d like to be featured in Three Times A Charm, send an email to me and let me know; kaistrand (at) yahoo (dot) com. It’s easy and fun!

Comments

  1. UnknownApril 20, 2011 at 7:29 AM

    Such a nice interview. It's great to get to know you better!

    ReplyDelete
  2. Janet Ann CollinsApril 20, 2011 at 7:33 AM

    Thank you for interviewing me, Kai.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Kai Strand, AuthorApril 20, 2011 at 7:52 AM

    @Nancy, always nice to know our fellow authors, isn't it?

    @Janet, it really is a pleasure to have you on the blog.

    ReplyDelete
  4. AnonymousApril 20, 2011 at 12:58 PM

    Kai,
    I really enjoyed your unique interview.
    Blessings,
    J. Aday Kennedy
    The Differently-Abled Writer & Speaker
    Children's Author of Stella the Fire Farting Dragon (April 2010)
    www.jadaykennedy.com

    ReplyDelete
  5. Beverly Stowe McClureApril 20, 2011 at 1:13 PM

    Very nice interview. I can picture kids getting lost on a field trip. There were certain students I really had to watch when my class went places because they loved to wander off.

    Congratulaitons on your books, Janet.

    ReplyDelete
  6. Magic Carpet of 16x BooksApril 20, 2011 at 1:43 PM

    This was fun to read, mates. Great job both of you.

    Margot’s Magic Carpet
    http://perfectmagiccarpet.blogspot.com/

    ReplyDelete
  7. Kay BushnellApril 20, 2011 at 2:28 PM

    Congratulations, Janet, and thanks to Margot for the lead. A pleasant and informative interview.

    ReplyDelete
  8. Kai Strand, AuthorApril 20, 2011 at 3:33 PM

    @J. Aday, thanks for stopping in.

    @Beverly, I had to chaperone 5 boys on a fieldtrip once. 2 were good, but the other 3! I was so nervous.

    @Margot, glad you stopped in & thanks for sending others this way. Appreciate that!

    @Kay, nice to meet another Kay, (Kai, Kae, all the same, right?) So glad you stopped by.

    ReplyDelete
  9. Connie ArnoldApril 21, 2011 at 4:26 PM

    Nice interview, ladies! Jan's Signs of Trouble is a great book to help children learn about staying safe.

    ReplyDelete

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Susan Kaye Quinn, Author of Open Minds, Presents:

Image
Finding Time to Write the Sequel by Susan Kaye Quinn, author of Open Minds (Book One of the Mindjack Trilogy) Even before I decided to self-publish my new paranormal/SF novel Open Minds (Book One of the Mindjack Trilogy) , I knew it would be a trilogy. But once I had made the decision to publish, the need to get busy on the sequel(s) kicked into high gear. Except that I was also publishing a book. Most writers find it difficult to balance writing with all the other demands in life. Even people who are lucky enough to write full time (which I am, since I write while my kids are at school), there’s still a tug between writing time and all the other things that need to be done. Once you’re published, this all changes, and not for the better. Now, not only do you need to write and get the kids to school and get the laundry done, but you also need to market your book, which can mean everything from actually getting it published (edits, covers, websites, blogs)...
Read more

Robot Writing - What It Is & How to Avoid It

Image
Many beginner writers fall into the habit of what I like to refer to as “robot writing.” It’s when you basically write your scenes like a grocery list. Ex: Marcy stood and walked across the room. Then she picked up the candle stick to inspect it. She blinked when she noticed the spot of dried blood. Marcy dropped the candlestick and ran from the room. I call it robot writing because when I'm reading it I tend to fall into a robotic pattern and start to sound like the robot from the old Lost In Space series. "Danger. Danger. Will Robinson." You may as well put numbers in front of each sentence: First Marcy stood and walked across the room. Second she picked up the candlestick to inspect it. Third she blinked when she noticed the spot of dried blood. Fourth she dropped the candlestick and ran from the room. Don’t get me wrong, robot writing is absolutely acceptable in your first draft, no matter your writing experience. Your first p...
Read more

Don't Be Closed Minded. Read a Banned Book. #Giveaway

Image
On this list , compiled by the ALA, of the top 100 challenged books of the decades 1990-1999 and 2000-2009, I've read: The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian Adventure of Huckleberry Finn The Adventures of Tom Sawyer Blubber Crank The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time The Dead Zone The Earth, My Butt, and Other Big Round Things Fat Kid Rules the World The Giver Harry Potter (series) The Hunger Games (series) The Kite Runner The Lovely Bones Olive's Ocean Speak Staying Fat for Sarah Byrnes That Was Then, This Is Now Thirteen Reasons Why Twilight (series) A Wrinkle In Time I would recommend any of them, but especially the titles I've linked. The thing with me and banned books is that I don't get it. The banning thing. Why would you ever feel the right to keep a book out of the hands of other readers? Why would you feel you have the authority to say what some can and cannot read? Do you have the right to voice your o...
Read more