Meet Children's Author Ryan Joiner

Author Biography:

Mr. Joiner is the consummate lover of reading. He can think of few activities more enjoyable. He’s equally passionate about inventing new ways to make reading fascinating and more accessible to children. He makes his home in Iowa. For information about Mr. Joiner’s books, contact him at:  ryanjoinerbooks@gmail.com.

Author Interview:

Ryan Joiner is an interesting author with quite a bit to offer the literary world. His forte is working directly with children to foster the love of reading. His recent children's release is gaining popularity. Therefore, we found it fitting to interview this author on the rise for our blogspot. You can find his latest release and interview below:

What are your favorite books?

There are too many to name. Probably 99.9 percent of the books that I’ve read fascinated me.

                             

What is your advice for aspiring authors or writers?

Read as many autobiographies as you can. That will give you the permission and the courage to write about your own life if you need it. You then privately write about your own personal life. As you’re writing on your life, your “personal” life-lessons and passions will emerge. This will be your material. Write about them-make them your genre- when you’re ready to write for the public.  

What are you best experiences as a writer?

My best experience as a writer was writing on my entire life. It’s how I found myself. It’s how I found my passions. It’s how I found my genre.

Do you suffer from writers block?

No. Writer’s block is an illusion. Brainstorming proves that writer’s block is nonexistent.

What are your current writing projects?

I am currently working on my Children’s picture book series called THE AMAZING THINGS THAT BOOKS CAN DO! It’s a four-book series.

What is the one thing that has surprised you the most during your writing career?

Elementary schools, Junior High schools, High schools, Community Colleges, Universities, book stores, and public libraries purchasing my mere Children’s picture book totally surprised me. In my mind, I’d limited my buyers to mere private parents and guardians-not public educational institutions.

What authors influence your work?

I’d have to say every author who I’ve read. Some authors helped me get my logic and reasoning right. Some authors helped me find myself. Some authors helped me confront myself. Some authors helped me confront the world. Some authors helped me understand the world. I’d have to say every author who I’ve read influence my work in some way, form, or fashion.

Do you ever suffer from writers block?  If so, how do you get past it?

I never suffer from writer’s block. Whenever I’m in need of ideas or inspiration, I simply brainstorm. Whenever I’m in need of energy to write, I simply rest. If I’m not tired I’ll eat or drink something healthy to pick myself up. Writer’s block is an illusion.

When you’re not writing, what keeps you busy? What are some of your favorite things to do?

Since reading is my most favorite thing to do, it’s what keeps me engaged. I also love patronizing bookstores and libraries. Spending time with family and friends is just as important and enjoyable. Nature’s my playground. I really enjoy sketching the illustrations of my books and dictating the designs of my books. There are a lot of things that I enjoy.

What are you currently working on?

I’m currently working on my Children’s picture book series called THE AMAZING THINGS THAT BOOKS CAN DO!

What was the one book that most influenced your life and why?

How To Eat To Live by Elijah Muhammad saved my life. It was the book that introduced me to vegetarianism. It was the book that introduced me to fasting. It’s the book that taught me that less is actually more when it comes to eating. It’s the book that taught me that life isn’t all about physically eating. Ultimately this book led me to the life of energy which led me to life and living abundantly. For the sake of brevity-because I can go on and on and on about this book-I’ll just say How To Eat To Live is the one book that most influenced my life.

If there was one thing you could change about this literary journey what would it be?

I wouldn’t change a thing. Both the inspiration and the challenges have motivated me to keep going. I’m enjoying all the benefits that come from persevering.

You can find out more about Ryan by following his blog @http://ryanjoiner.blogspot.com/.

Meet Teen Author Patrice Sanford

Author Biography:

Patrice Sanford is a newly published teen author at Golden Butterfly Publishing. She is a California resident that loves writing. Her dream is to be a film producer, director, and screenwriter.  Her writing influences include Suzan Collins, S.E. Hinton, and Christopher Paul Curtis. Patrice is an avid reader of Realistic and Historical Fiction. Her love of reading is what made her desire to become a writer.

Over the years, Patrice has written many short stories. However, her first published work is entitled, Kenya’s Missing Book. It is a children’s book promoting teamwork and compromising. Without teamwork, Kenya J. Thomas wouldn’t have found her book. Kenya and her friends look everywhere to find her book, and had to change their technique multiple times. Read this work to see if Kenya finds her favorite book.

What are your favorite books?

My favorite books are anything by Cecily von Ziegesar, L. Devine or John Green. I also love Divergent and Catching Fire.

What is your advice for aspiring authors or writers?

My advice for aspiring authors or writers, would probably to have fun with your writing and don’t worry about what others have to say about it. I mean, yeah, you want them to read it, but for every writer, there’s a reader. If they don’t like your work, it’s not because you suck, but because your work just isn’t for them. Stay strong and stay creative.

What are you best experiences as a writer?

My best experiences as a writer are when I have a great idea and I go on with a great plot for a long time.

Do you suffer from writers block?

I actually do suffer from writers block sometimes. The times that I have it, are the most depressing weeks of my life.

What are your current writing projects?

I am currently working on getting myself situated and confirmed as an author, putting together the sequel to Kenya’s Missing Book, and finishing The Darcey- Anne Diaries and Jeremy the Great.

Fans can find out more about Patrice’s work by logging on to www.sywtk.blogspot.com. In order to purchase her book, readers can find her ebook wherever ebooks are sold. Please support this buddying author Patrice Sanford.

How to support a children’s author of color...

At first glance, this may seem like a crazy statement. However, it is a real issue within the publishing industry. Writers of color had to fight for years to get book contracts from reputable publishing companies. Many have had to meet quotas for selling books which has resulted in possible only getting one work published out of the fifteen or twenty they have already written. In other words, lack of financial support for a children’s author work can equal them ending their careers before they begin.

I distinguish between supporting an author vs. financially supporting a children’s author of color since they are fundamentally two different things. For example, support a children’s author of color looks like the following:

 

You might read their work, check it out of the library, and get them to do free book readings for children at schools.

However, financially supporting a children’s author of color looks like the following:

 

You buy their work with a purpose, write a review on your purchase, and get them to do paid visits to schools.

The latter will help build the career of an author of color. The former will take away from the professionalism of the author. I have heard for years that many children’s authors of color feel that their work is not respected. The authors are asked to give their work away for free or as a service. However, mainstream authors are rarely asked to do this unless they are Indie authors.

The lack of financial support of authors of color is why there are few books in this genre to choose from in the first place. All publishing companies function as a business. If the money is not there, it is assumed the audience and buyers are not there either. Therefore, why should you invest money in what essentially becomes a money pit?

It cost three times the amount to produce an illustrated children’s book than it does to produce a novel. Therefore, the investment needs to be there in order for the publishing companies to invest. Readers that want high quality books for their children need to invest in these authors in different ways:

      1.      We need more parents to buy children’s books from bookstores and online from authors of color.

2.      We need more parents to write reviews of these books.

3.      We need librarians to buy more books from children’s authors of color.

4.      We need more parents to set up blogs that feature children of color.

5.      We need more teachers to use books by authors of color in the classroom’

6.      We need more children to read books by children’s authors of color.

7.      We need more children, parents, and teachers to allow children to study authors of color in the classroom.

All of these things are a start and they are simple to do. These small things will guarantee that children’s authors of color will have access to readers and access to professionalizing their work.

Happy reading!

 

Tiffany A. Flowers, Children’s Author

Rashaun J. Allen Literary Blog Tour - Day 3

Meet Author & Publisher Rashaun J. Allen

After Rashaun graduated from SUNY Albany with his BS in Business Administration and The College Of Saint with his MBA. He decided to combine his educational background with his passion for writing. 5 years into his vision, Rashaun has two books of powerful poetry: A Walk Through Brooklyn and In The Moment and is also the founder of Royal Blue Publishing.

Rashuan has published paperback and electronic books, edited manuscripts for authors, and theses for graduate students.  He has facilitated workshops for poetry and entrepreneurship for schools, libraries and organizations. He has been quoted in publication throughout the capital region of New York: The Chronicle, The Troy Record, Albany Student Press & UA Magazine. His goals are to write novels, publish future writers, and inspire youth through his story.

 Rashaun J. Allen Interview:

What is the one thing that has surprised you the most during your writing career?

·         I received an email from a fan where she revealed that reading A Walk Through Brooklyn inspired her to pursue writing.

What authors influence your work?

·         Reading Maya Angelou “Why The Caged Bird Sings” encouraged me to want to write my story.

Do you ever suffer from writers block?  If so, how do you get past it?

·         When I am unable to create I move into a different aspect of writing. Usually, I will take the time to rewrite previous work to make smother. Or work on the arc the story I am trying to show.

When you’re not writing, what keeps you busy?  What are some of your favorite things to do?

·         When I am not writing I like to exercise and learn about my family history. I stay active by getting involved with Insanity or doing races like Color Me Rad. As far as family history I do research on Ancestry.com or take time to interview family members and pictures.

What are you currently working on?

·         I am currently working on childhood stories which will be part of a larger body of work.

What was the one book that most influenced your life and why?

·         Message To A Young Brother By Hill Harper. It just shared a lot of advice I could use to identify and solve issues I faced growing up as an African[American] male.

If there was one thing you could change about this literary journey what would it be?

·         I started writing and publishing in 2009. I would of took my writing serious sooner.

African American Literature for Tweens & Teens

Although, there has been considerable talk related to tweens and teens reading Urban Fiction this does not mean that those same teens would not read carefully crafted prose by Young Adult Authors. I am an avid lover of fiction, children’s literature, and nonfiction. However, I continue to read Young Adult fiction that crosses my desk from time to time. I decided to recommend three books that I have read personally, passed on to teens to read, and have heard rave reviews about.

 

Jacqueline Woodson – I hadn’t meant to tell you this & Lena

Sharon Flake – Who am I without him?

The Baby Girl - Key Rollins 

All three of these books offer great information related to struggles that teens have related to abuse, relationships, peer pressure, and friendship. I give all of these books 5/5 stars.

 

Happy Reading!

 

Tiffany A. Flowers – Author

www.goldenbutterflypublishing.com