Author Interview: Annette Whipple

Meet Author Annette Whipple!

Wet site: Annette Whipple

Blog: The Laura Ingalls Wilder Companion

Facebook: @AnnetteWhippleBooks

Twitter: @AnnetteWhipple

Instagram: @AnnetteWhippleBooks

BIO:

Annette Whipple celebrates curiosity and inspires a sense of wonder while exciting readers about science and history. She’s the author of ten fact-filled children’s books including The Laura Ingalls Wilder Companion: A Chapter-by-Chapter Guide (Chicago Review Press) and The Truth About series (Reycraft Books) including Whooo Knew? The Truth About Owls and Scurry! The Truth About Spiders. Get to know Annette and explore her resources for writers at her website: www.AnnetteWhipple.com.

Featured Book:

WOOF! The Truth About Dogs

by Annette Whipple

(Reycraft Books, 2021)

How do dogs communicate? Why do dogs sniff each other? Are dogs just tame wolves? These and other questions are answered by the author, along with some extra information provided by the dogs themselves in this second book in The Truth About series.

INTERVIEW

Q: Tell us your favs!

Color? My favorite color is probably green…but not all shades! I like muted colors that often have a touch of gray or brown.

Pet? I have two pets right now—cats. One is Kiwi and the other is Soka. But I really miss my childhood dog named Dog and a cat with a big personality named Mookie.

Kid’s book from when you were a kid? When I was a girl, I devoured The Baby-Sitters Club books by Ann M. Martin.

Place to write a first draft? I typically write first drafts at my desk if using a computer or at my kitchen table or couch if using paper.

Q: How did you experience breakthrough to work with this publishing house?

I met my Reycraft Books editor at a Highlights Foundation workshop. After giving my owl manuscript a break for a couple of years because it just wasn’t working, I completely changed the structure and loved it. I took the incomplete manuscript for Whooo Knew? The Truth About Owls to Highlights, and my editor expressed interest. Woof! The Truth About Dogs is the second book in The Truth About animal series which also includes the upcoming books about spiders, frogs, and cats. I can’t wait!

Q: Describe part of the research process it took to write this manuscript.

Oh my. Most of my research was at the beginning of the pandemic, so I had to rely heavily on less than a dozen books. Thankfully I had the internet and an expert to consult! Though I couldn’t meet with my expert manuscript reviewer, I was still able to hang out with some dogs during my research which helped.

Q: Where do you get most of your ideas?

I think this world is pretty amazing. However, ideas come from the things I do and people I meet or read about. CLICK HERE to read this blog post I wrote about my writing inspiration!

Q: Please share one word of advice you’d like to say to encourage other aspiring picture book writers.

One word of advice: ART! It’s an acronym. I know I’m a better writer today because of ACCOUNTABILITY (with critique partners), READING (lots of books in my genre including mentor texts), and TIME (investing in the craft of writing). CLICK HERE to read a blog post I wrote about this, too, which includes lots more detail.

I think facts are fun. And Nancy, I think you’re a lot of fun, too! Thanks for having me!

You’re welcome, Annette! Thanks for sharing so generously about your journey to success!