Visiting With Children's Author-Kathryn Lay!

I had the pleasure of visiting with my friend Kathryn Lay and she was ever so kind in allowing a short interview!


Kathryn do you write creatively each day?

Yes. I try to spend 2-3 hours in actual writing 4-5 days a week, then another hour or so a day, sometimes 6 days in a week, of marketing stuff and researching markets.

Are you able to work from home?

Yes. I home schooled while I wrote for several years, but my daughter is in a public high school as of last year. So, I spend most of my days with writing issues -- whether writing, marketing, teaching writing classes, promoting my 2 books, or doing school visits.

Are you reading children's book in the same category as you own?

I love ALL types of children's books, but I do tend to read a lot of middle grade, especially humor, fantasy, contemporary and what's hip and popular out there. I'm reading more and more picture books now too.

What are some of you most memorable children's stories from childhood?

The book that made me decide I wanted to write was A Wrinkle in Time. I also loved Seuss, the Hobbit, and any fantasy I could get ahold of. I read a lot of Bradbury too.

When did you know, you had a good one with your first title: Crown Me?

I had a lot of good feedback on that book from editors, though it wasn't quite ready for publication. It placed in several writing contests for unpublished children's book categories as well. When my agent read it, she told me she thought it was saleable and I should consider rewriting it from 3rd to 1st person. I loved writing this book and believed kids would find it fun too.

Do you use the critique groups of Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators?

Not online ones. I have been meeting with the same in-person critique group that formed through our local SCBWI chapter for about 19 years now.

That's amazing, what do you find most valuable about the organization?

Contacts, both with editors and agents at conferences, as well as with other local writers. I am always grateful too for the Bulletin and how much information I get from both the articles and the market information.

Are you dreaming of stories now?

Always! I'm in the midst of a major rewrite on a mid-grade novel for my agent, as well as a few picture books and have other novels in stages of beginning or needing to rewrite. I also spend a lot of time writing short fiction and nonfiction for magazines and anthologies and educational stuff as well.

What is your next big goal?

To sell another book! I have a novel out in the market and a picture book, I'd love for both of them to sell. But one of my big goals is to be making enough money from book sales and school visits to concentrate only on writing children's books, though I might find it difficult to give up the short pieces too.

I am proud of you Kathryn! Thank you for taking time with me today!
Look for Kathryn's books!

JOSH'S HALLOWEEN PUMPKIN, Fall 2008, Pelican Books
CROWN ME!, Fall 2004, Holiday House
Winner, Texas State Reading Assoc. Golden Spur Award 2005
THE ORGANIZED WRITER IS A SELLING WRITER, 2004