YA Books Troop 21 - Interview
Don't miss this fabulous interview with Stacey Chomiak, Shelly X. Leonn, and Dana Swift! I also share a little bit about myself. #YAbooksTroop21 #AuthorChat #YAmemoir #LGBTQ+ #BeamingBooks #YAthriller #OwlHollowPress #YAfantasy #Delacorte #GetUnderlined #YAscifi #FireAndIceYA #TantorBooks
Stacey Chomiak is a children's book illustrator and artist in the animation industry who launched her career working on the beloved series My Little Pony: Friendship Is Magic. Chomiak loves to advocate and use her artistic talents for the LGBTQ+ Christian community. She lives with her family on the West Coast of Canada.
Website: staceychomiak.wixsite.com
Twitter: @stacerchomiak
Instagram: @staceychomiakart
Shelly X. Leonn is the author of The Broken Series. After graduating with a Bachelor of Arts in journalism, Shelly worked at her hometown newspaper as the web and youth editor. During her time advising the youth staff, Shelly realized her true calling was teaching. Her years in education have been spent in middle school and high school language arts classrooms. She is also an adjunct professor.
She and her two boys reside in Affton, and she enjoys reading, writing, outdoor activities, anime, video games, and other dorky pastimes.
Shelly is represented by Stephanie Hansen at Metamorphosis Literary Agency.
Dana Swift graduated from the University of Texas at Austin and is an active member of the DFW Writers’ Workshop. She lives in Miami, Florida, with her husband. She is the author of Cast in Firelight and Bound by Firelight. To learn more about Dana and her books visit danaswiftbooks.com or follow @swift_dana on Twitter and Instagram.
Stephanie Hansen is a PenCraft Award winning author. Her short story, Break Time, and poetry has been featured in Mind's Eye literary magazine. The Kansas Writers Association published her short story, Existing Forces, appointing her as a noted author. She has held a deep passion for writing since early childhood, but a brush with death caused her to allow it to grow. She's part of an SCBWI critique group in Lawrence, Kansas, and two local book clubs. She attends many writers' conferences, including the Writing Day Workshops, New York Pitch, Penned Con, New Letters, All Write Now, Show Me Writers Master Class, BEA, and Nebraska Writers Guild conference as well as book fairs and Comic-Cons. She is a member of the deaf and hard of hearing community. https://tantor.com/replaced-parts-stephanie-hansen.html
The subject of understanding the rules and risks of sports betting feels more interesting when there is room for a reader to stop and ask their own questions. Clear explanations of odds and limits can make it easier to examine a betting claim critically. I would use that point as a starting question when considering sports betting literacy. The part I would like to explore further is what happens when the idea meets a real situation with its own limitations. Which terms should a newcomer understand before considering what an advertised offer means?
What interests me about making after-school activities engaging is how a broad idea becomes part of an ordinary day. An informal activity can give children room to try an interest outside the usual lesson structure. It also gives the phrase after school learning activities a clearer meaning than a label on its own. I would be interested in a simple example, because it is often the ordinary details that make an idea memorable. How can an after-school group welcome both regular participants and new arrivals?
I find building a personal connection with words easier to approach when there is a familiar situation to start from. A single remembered detail can give a short piece of writing a clearer sense of place. With Leandevie in mind, reading and creative writing feels like a topic worth exploring one question at a time. A simple comparison would help me picture the differences without rushing towards a fixed answer. What would you keep when shortening a story without losing its atmosphere?
Considering exploring the connections behind everyday food, I would want to understand a few concrete details before deciding what matters most. Knowing a little about how food reaches a table can make an ordinary meal more interesting. That thought gives me a starting point for exploring thoughtful food choices in connection with Italiabio. I would be interested in an example that shows how the idea works in an ordinary situation. Which questions would you ask when learning about an unfamiliar ingredient or producer?
I find exploring visual ideas through observation easier to approach when there is a familiar situation to start from. A small choice of colour or viewpoint can change the feeling of an image. That thought gives me a starting point for exploring creative visual expression in connection with Distinctivefocus. That is the part I would keep thinking about after moving on to something else. How would you describe that change to someone who has not seen the work?