Author Interview with Sandra McLeod Humphrey

SandraMcLeod Humphrey is a retired clinical psychologist, a character educationconsultant, and an award-winning author of seven middle-grade and young adultbooks. She's also the recipient of the National Character Education Center'sAward for Exemplary Leadership in Ethics Education (2000) and the 2005 HelenKeating Ott Award for Outstanding Contribution to Children's Literature. In herwords: "After working as a clinical psychologist for more than 31 years, Iconsider my new writing career as the 'desssert' of my life!"
Your latest book is Hot Issues, CoolChoices: Facing Bullies, Peer Pressure, Popularity, and Put-Downs;perhaps you'd you give us some insight into it in a few sentences and let usknow how you came to write it?
HotIssues, Cool Choices: Facing Bullies, Peer Pressure, Popularity, and Put-Downs was a book I had to write. After doing school visitsfor two years and hearing the personal stories the students told me about theirbullying experiences, I knew I had to share those stories with my readers. Thestories are fictionalized to some extent, but they are all based on truebullying experiences, and the book is dedicated to a 12-year-old boy who tookhis own life as a result of being bullied.
Do you have afavourite character from the book? If so, who and why this particular one?
Oneof my favorite stories from the book is the one written by a bully himself whois totally clueless as to how others perceive him. He does not see himself as abully and uses all kinds of rationalizations to excuse his bullying behavior.
Where can people buyyour books?
Mybooks are available at all major bookstores, both offline and online, and ifpeople would like an autographed copy of one of my books, they can order onefrom my website http://www.kidscandoit.com.
What qualities does awriter need to be successful?
Fora writer to be successful, one most definitely needs perseverance and a passionto write. It has been said that a writer can not "not write" and I totallyagree. Everywhere I go and with everything I see, I think in terms of "story."What kind of story is told here and by whom? Even when I'm sitting in thewaiting room at a doctor's office, I sometimes entertain myself by making up astory about each of the other people in the waiting room.
What's your workingmethod?
Myworking method is actually pretty simple. I'm a morning person, so I write inthe mornings and do my busywork in the afternoons or evenings when I'm prettymuch "brain-dead." I usually set a potentially attainable goal each day (onpaper), so that at the end of the day, I can cross it off. I'm a "list person"and I love to make lists, just so I can cross everything off at the end of theday!
What's the singlebiggest mistake made by beginner writers?
Ithink one of the mistakes beginning writers may make is to not read enough. Tobe a writer, one must READ, READ, READ, particularly in their genre. Anothercommon mistake is insufficient market research before they send theirmanuscripts off to the publishers. There are some great marketing resourcesavailable, and the editors will know if you've done your homework.
To what extent aregrammar and spelling important in writing?
Imay be in the minority, but personally, I think grammar and spelling areextremely important. They show that "you care enough to send the very best!"
How much do yourevise your MS before sending it off?
Irevise and revise and then I revise some more. I also give my manuscripts a"cooling off" period of a few days (or weeks), so that I can look at them withfresh eyes the way a potential reader would be looking at them.
As a writer, to whatextent do you think genre is useful in the publishing world?
Actually,I think genre is quite important—particularly when it comes to differentiatingM-G novels from YA novels and from differentiating the various types of fantasyand sci-fi novels.
Many authors seemarketing as a bind. What's your opinion on this, and how do you deal with it?
I'mnot sure what you mean by "bind," but I see marketing simply as one of those thingsI have to do as a writer. This means checking out potential prepublicationendorsers, potential reviewers, appropriate book awards, etc. There are alwaysmarketing "surprises" one never anticipates such as the Boston middle schoolwhich ordered 900 copies of one of my books to use in their pen pal programwith their community leaders. Who could ever have predicted that one?
What sort ofdisplacement activities keep you from writing?
Iactually do a lot of work with our youth as a Sunday school teacher, VacationBible School teacher, confirmation mentor, school visits, young writers'workshops, etc., but there's most definitely an upside to all my youthactivities because the time I spend with our youth gives me great material formy books.
What support, if any,do you receive from family and friends, writing group, or dedicatedprofessionals?
EverywhereI go, I get support! My social networking friends on the internet, my friendsin the real world, and especially my husband (who never complains about theendless hours I spend on the computer) all give me very much appreciatedsupport!
Is presentation ofthe MS as important as agents and publishers suggest?
Ithink presentation is extremely important! That first line, that firstparagraph, that first page all make an impression! Your format, your grammar,your spelling, your typos, your "voice," your writing style, your storyline,your characterization etc. will all be revealed by the end of the firstchapter.
How long does it takeyou to write a book?
I'musually working on two books simultaneously, and it generally takes me abouttwo years to complete both books.
Who or what inspiresyour writing?
Peopleand social issues inspire my writing. The problem of school bullying inspiredmy bullying book, the questions my confirmation students asked inspired my Keepin' It Real: A Young Teen Talks with God,my Sunday school classes inspired my Me,Myself, and I: Youth Meditations for Grades Five through Eight, mythirty-one years as a clinical psychologist inspired my What Would You Do? series and my new book The No-Name Club's Not-So-Official Guide to Solving Your Problems(Royal Fireworks 11/11), and my ongoing passion to encourage our youth tobelieve in themselves inspired my Dare toDream!: 25 Extraordinary Lives and my new book They Stood Alone!: 25 Men and Women Who Made a Difference(Prometheus Books 11/11).
If there's a singleaspect of writing you find frustrating, what is it?
The only area of writing Ifind frustrating is that I have so many ideas for so many books I want towrite, and I know that I won't be around long enough to write them all!
Is there a particularfeature of writing that you really enjoy?
My passion is to inspireour youth to develop strong character, to believe in themselves, and to dreamdreams (their own dreams), and every time I receive letters or e-mails from myreaders who tell me how much one of my books has helped them, that is mostdefinitely a "peak experience" for me.
Do you believecreative writing is a natural gift or an acquired skill?
I think creative writingis a combination of both native ability and acquired skill. To be a successfulwriter, I think you need both.
What are you writingnow?
I'm currently working on Failure Isn't Final!: 25 Men and Women WhoNever Gave Up, and as with all my other books, I'm writing it to inspireour youth to persevere, to believe in themselves and their dreams, and to nevergive up!
Do you have a websiteor blog where readers can visit?
Youcan learn more about my books by visiting my Web site at www.kidscandoit.com. and my blog at http://www.kidscandoit.com/blog/
Given unlimitedresources, where would you do your writing?
IfI had unlimited resources, I think I'd have a beach hideaway on some Hawaiianisland with my four dogs (350 pounds of "dog") and enough electricity for mycomputer and my printer. (My husband can come, too).
Where do you actuallywrite?
I write at my computer inmy study. Actually, it's my husband's study because his study has better lightthan mine, and every time he comes in or goes out, I have to stop typing andmove my chair because my chair blocks the doorway. I'm thinking that Hawaiianisland is looking better all the time!