A Conversation with Bud DeYoung and Cindy Martinusen Coloma, Authors of It’s a Wild Life
Featured on Nat Geo Wild’s My Life Is a Zoo, Bud DeYoung runs a zoo on his own property in the harsh climate of Michigan’s Upper Peninsula. Along with “Big Cat” Carrie, Bud educates the public about animal conservation and daily doles out love to the hundreds of animals in his care, including Bengal tigers, arctic wolves, and a very hungry hippo named Wallace. With best-selling coauthor Cindy Martinusen Coloma, he’s documented his lifelong journey in It’s a Wild Life: How My Life Became a Zoo, releasing from Medallion Press in June 2014.
Featured on Nat Geo Wild’s My Life Is a Zoo, Bud DeYoung runs a zoo on his own property in the harsh climate of Michigan’s Upper Peninsula. Along with “Big Cat” Carrie, Bud educates the public about animal conservation and daily doles out love to the hundreds of animals in his care, including Bengal tigers, arctic wolves, and a very hungry hippo named Wallace. With best-selling coauthor Cindy Martinusen Coloma, he’s documented his lifelong journey in It’s a Wild Life: How My Life Became a Zoo, releasing from Medallion Press in June 2014.
Cindy Martinusen Coloma has written twelve novels as well as several nonfiction books and over one hundred published articles, and she’s a speaker and teacher at national and international women’s gatherings, retreats, and writers’ conferences.
1. Tell us a little bit about yourself.
While I love traveling and discovering different cultures, I’ve lived in the same rural northern California area for over 35 years within 15 miles of my parents, sister, niece and nephew, children, and childhood friends. My five kids range in age from 24 and 1 year (ages 24, 22, 17, 3, 1). Within the same day, I’ll have discussions about dating or college plans while changing a diaper and tripping over toys. It’s never dull.
My husband and I met in the Philippines (where he’s from) at a writers’ conference about ten years ago. He helped me do research for a novel I wrote set in the country, and our friendship obviously developed into more. The intercultural differences have been interesting, challenging at times, and certainly enriching. My new Filipino family are pleased that I like Filipino food, which is a good thing because Filipinos do so love their cuisine and fiestas.
2. What led to your decision to be a writer?
When I was growing up, we had three channels on television and in our neighborhood only one set of friends down our street. My imagination was always zipping with ideas, and books were beloved companions. I would write stories or think them up before going to sleep, but when thinking of what I wanted to be when I grew up, I’d say an archaeologist, a teacher, or a film actor, among just a few. Later I discovered that as a writer I walk in the shoes of a widely diverse set of people, personalities, and careers. It’s similar to being an actor playing different roles on the page. In a sense, I get to be everything I wanted to be when I grew up.
3. Tell us what it took to get your first manuscript published.
First, I had years of rejection letters. But I kept writing, studying, learning, attending writers’ conferences, rising above the failures until those rejection letters became a trail of the hard work it takes to reach a goal.
I’d begun dabbling in the career around 1990 while writing plays for my church. I attended my first writers’ conference in 1994 at the Mount Hermon Christian Writers Conference. In 1996, I signed with a literary agent, and two years later, my first novel was contracted and that set me on my publishing journey. Before that, I’d had only a play and a few articles published.
4. What are the three most important things aspiring writers should know about getting their work published?
Three words: read, write, and understand.
Read voraciously to improve your own writing, to be aware of the book industry, and to just love and savor stories.
Write to get the story down (I meet many talented writers who never get a project done), to improve your craft (don’t just write without input or editing help, but keep improving your writing!), and to enjoy the hard but beautiful process of being a creator.
Understand everything about writing, books, and the industry. It’s a changing landscape, so take the time to understand the different aspects, stay on top of what’s happening, network with other writers and publishing people, and be professional about what you are doing. But be flexible in this understanding—writing and publishing are in constant change, especially right now.
5. Aside from writing, what are your hobbies or areas of expertise?
I greatly enjoy traveling both domestically and abroad, though my favorite place is home with family and friends. Films, reading, camping, checking out new lighthouses, and discussing story ideas with my daughter, son, or husband (we do this regularly). I’m also a bit of a foodie and love to eat—and sometimes cook—a finely crafted meal paired with a strong bitter ale or good wine.
6. Where can your fans go to get in touch with you?
I’d love to hear from you!
Website
Facebook
Twitter: @CindyColoma
- See more at: http://medallionmediagroup.com/conver...
htt://www.helenrich.com
Featured on Nat Geo Wild’s My Life Is a Zoo, Bud DeYoung runs a zoo on his own property in the harsh climate of Michigan’s Upper Peninsula. Along with “Big Cat” Carrie, Bud educates the public about animal conservation and daily doles out love to the hundreds of animals in his care, including Bengal tigers, arctic wolves, and a very hungry hippo named Wallace. With best-selling coauthor Cindy Martinusen Coloma, he’s documented his lifelong journey in It’s a Wild Life: How My Life Became a Zoo, releasing from Medallion Press in June 2014.
Cindy Martinusen Coloma has written twelve novels as well as several nonfiction books and over one hundred published articles, and she’s a speaker and teacher at national and international women’s gatherings, retreats, and writers’ conferences.
1. Tell us a little bit about yourself.
While I love traveling and discovering different cultures, I’ve lived in the same rural northern California area for over 35 years within 15 miles of my parents, sister, niece and nephew, children, and childhood friends. My five kids range in age from 24 and 1 year (ages 24, 22, 17, 3, 1). Within the same day, I’ll have discussions about dating or college plans while changing a diaper and tripping over toys. It’s never dull.
My husband and I met in the Philippines (where he’s from) at a writers’ conference about ten years ago. He helped me do research for a novel I wrote set in the country, and our friendship obviously developed into more. The intercultural differences have been interesting, challenging at times, and certainly enriching. My new Filipino family are pleased that I like Filipino food, which is a good thing because Filipinos do so love their cuisine and fiestas.
2. What led to your decision to be a writer?
When I was growing up, we had three channels on television and in our neighborhood only one set of friends down our street. My imagination was always zipping with ideas, and books were beloved companions. I would write stories or think them up before going to sleep, but when thinking of what I wanted to be when I grew up, I’d say an archaeologist, a teacher, or a film actor, among just a few. Later I discovered that as a writer I walk in the shoes of a widely diverse set of people, personalities, and careers. It’s similar to being an actor playing different roles on the page. In a sense, I get to be everything I wanted to be when I grew up.
3. Tell us what it took to get your first manuscript published.
First, I had years of rejection letters. But I kept writing, studying, learning, attending writers’ conferences, rising above the failures until those rejection letters became a trail of the hard work it takes to reach a goal.
I’d begun dabbling in the career around 1990 while writing plays for my church. I attended my first writers’ conference in 1994 at the Mount Hermon Christian Writers Conference. In 1996, I signed with a literary agent, and two years later, my first novel was contracted and that set me on my publishing journey. Before that, I’d had only a play and a few articles published.
4. What are the three most important things aspiring writers should know about getting their work published?
Three words: read, write, and understand.
Read voraciously to improve your own writing, to be aware of the book industry, and to just love and savor stories.
Write to get the story down (I meet many talented writers who never get a project done), to improve your craft (don’t just write without input or editing help, but keep improving your writing!), and to enjoy the hard but beautiful process of being a creator.
Understand everything about writing, books, and the industry. It’s a changing landscape, so take the time to understand the different aspects, stay on top of what’s happening, network with other writers and publishing people, and be professional about what you are doing. But be flexible in this understanding—writing and publishing are in constant change, especially right now.
5. Aside from writing, what are your hobbies or areas of expertise?
I greatly enjoy traveling both domestically and abroad, though my favorite place is home with family and friends. Films, reading, camping, checking out new lighthouses, and discussing story ideas with my daughter, son, or husband (we do this regularly). I’m also a bit of a foodie and love to eat—and sometimes cook—a finely crafted meal paired with a strong bitter ale or good wine.
6. Where can your fans go to get in touch with you?
I’d love to hear from you!
Website
Twitter: @CindyColoma
- See more at: http://medallionmediagroup.com/conver...
htt://www.helenrich.com
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