Jan Pierson has published several children's books and shares her experience

It is, first of all, a privilege and pleasure to introduce Jan Pierson, author of “Goodbye God, I’m Going to Bodie, ” and “The Carson Kid Mysteries.”

Jan, before I start the formal interview, please give us some personal history, where you’re from, your family, and what you enjoy in your leisure time.


I just finished reading, Goodbye God, I’m Going to Bodie, and especially loved how you started your first page with the entry to Anna Louise Lockmoor’s diary, “Goodbye God, I’m going to Bodie.” From your opening remarks, it’s clear a little girl from Bodie actually penned those very words. Could you give us some background on that experience?


Meggie and Paige are delightful girls and good friends, so real in their imperfections, yet they grew tremendously in the 100 pages, leaving the readers with much to ponder. Did these characters materialize in your mind, or did you concoct them from girls you knew?


You do very well at keeping the reader wondering from page to page what happened to young Anna. Your other Carson Kid Series are mysteries as well. Have you always written mysteries? Are they your favorite genre?


Tell us about the research that went into Goodbye God, I’m Going to Bodie, and the time it took before you felt comfortable with description and historical authenticity. And please, if you will, guide our readers in some of the Dos and Don’ts you have learned in researching a writing project. I know in writing Fallout, I spent hours upon hours on research even though it fiction. Was that the case with Bodie?


I will say this, the great twist at the ending of Bodie, really surprised me, but I’ll stop there. I certainly don’t want to give that away. Readers, you’ll have to find that one out on your own. Tell us about some of your favorite authors that have inspired your writing.


Jan, I know you write for adults as well, but do you find writing for children gives you more, less, or the same fulfillment than writing for adults?


You were an instructor of the Institute of Children’s Literature. Did you enjoy and experience and do you feel writing courses are beneficial to writers?


As a children’s author, have school visits been advantageous to you and can you tell us how you approach learning institutions, and what students and faculty can expect from your presentation?


Jan, I could go on and on, but I’ll stop here. It’s been a delight and I wish you all the success in the world for your books, both children and adult. We’ll look forward to seeing many more from you on the bookshelves.



Richelle Putnam
Editor Children’s and Young Adult

Author of Fallout, a Middle Grade Fiction
www.amazon.com
www.barnesandnoble.com

Regional Representative for National Association of Women Writers
(NAWW)

This article shares Jan's research experiences and how the idea for Bodie sprung to life.