Three Times A Charm With Beverly Stowe McClure

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

This week children’s author, Beverly Stowe McClure, joins us from the deep in the heat of Texas.

Beverly, thank you for agreeing to be a part of my weekly feature “Three Times a Charm.” 

Thank you, Kai, for inviting me.

Beverly has visited Strands of Thought before, but for those who missed that interview, here is a refresher course.

When Beverly was a child she hated to read. Even though her eighth grade teacher sent her poem “Stars” to the National High School Poetry Association, and it was published in Young America Sings, an anthology of Texas high school poetry, she hated to write. In spite of her rocky relationship with books, she attended Midwestern State University and graduated cum laude with a Bachelor of Science in Education degree. She taught in elementary school for twenty-two years. Reading Dr. Seuss to her sons and Newbery winners with her students made Beverly realize what she’d been missing all those years: Reading was fun.

Now, she reads most every day. She also writes. She lives in the country with her husband, cat, and other wild critters that come to visit. 

Beverly, you’ve been so busy lately! Tell us about some of the great things going on in your life.

My first picture book, Frankie’s Perfect Home, was published by Guardian Angel Publishing in June. It’s been a different experience from my other work. Seeing the illustrator, Alex Morris, bring my characters to life has been awesome. He did a beautiful job.

My YA historical fiction, Caves, Cannons, and Crinolines, Twilight Times Books, is a finalist in the 2011 Next Generation Indie Book Awards, which tickles me. It’s fantastic to receive recognition for a story you‘ve spent months and years writing and editing. The book also is nominated for the eBook Global Awards. Waiting to see how it does there. Ardy M. Scott illustrated the lovely cover.

Life on Hold, a young adult contemporary novel, will debut soon. Aidana WillowRaven did the beautiful cover. Can’t wait to see it in print. 4RV Publishing also has my early reader, Tumbleweed Christmas, that is now being illustrated.

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

·    Top 3 pieces of advice for people just starting in your business.

      1.  Never, never give up. Say “I can do it. I can do it.” Then do it.

      2.  Read everything, fiction, nonfiction, children’s books, teens’ book, adult books. Subscribe to newsletters and blogs to get your name out there.

     

      3.  Join groups such as SCBWI, Verla Kay Boards, JacketFlap, Library Thing, GoodReads, and others for feedback and advice. Writing is a lonely profession and it’s good to keep up with the latest trends and what’s going on in the writing world.

·    Top 3 snacks to munch on while working.

      Root beer float with vanilla ice cream

      Brownies with pecans

      Lightly salted potato chips

·    Top 3 leisure activities.

      Walking and observing the birds, butterflies, flowers, and clouds

      Genealogy and scrap booking

      Playing songs from the 50s on the piano

Where can our readers learn more about you and your work?

Website:  http://beverlystowemcclure.wordpress.com/

Blog:       http://beverlystowemcclure.blogspot.com/

Twitter:  http://twitter.com/beverlymcclure

Facebook:  http://www.facebook.com/beverlysmcclure

Thanks, Beverly, for visiting with us today. Best of luck to you and all your projects. I’m so thrilled for you.

Thank you, Kai, for your cool questions.