Learn all about Ann Herrick, author of An Adorable Couple, as Betty Jo Schuler interviews her.

I’ve always enjoyed learning more about another author’s writing habits, events, career development, and advice they’d offer others, but this is the first time I’ve interviewed someone whose work I admire—fellow young adult author, Ann Herrick.

Ann’s book, THE PERFECT GUY, was an International Reading Association/Children's Book Council Children's Choice winner and an American Library Association Recommended Book for Reluctant Readers. CAMPER OF THE YEAR, DiskUs, http://diskuspublishing.com/camperoftheyear.html was an EPPIE Award Finalist. And perhaps she’ll tell us about her newest release, AN ADORABLE COUPLE.

BJS: When did your writing career begin and why?
ANN: About 20 years ago, a friend told me she was going to a meeting for writers. I told her I'd always thought about writing, but never did anything about it. She insisted I come to the meeting with her. I did, and enjoyed it, but still didn't start writing. However, when she asked me to attend a second meeting, I decided I had to bring something to read. So I sat down and wrote the first page of a short story. I got a good response to what I'd written, so I continued to write and haven’t stopped since!

BJS: What has been your favorite moment as a writer?
ANN: Selling my first book was a big thrill. I sent off a manuscript on a Thursday and on the following Tuesday I got a call from the editor wanting to buy it! But seeing praise on amazon.com from two women who had read one of my books ten years ago, was another big thrill, as was hearing from a 30-year-old woman who'd read one of my short stories 17 years ago and loved it so much that she tore it out of the magazine, saved it, and has been re-reading it at least once a year ever since.

BJS: Did you have a childhood dream that didn't come true ? If so, what was it and how do you feel about that?
ANN: I was absolutely horse crazy and dreamed of owning a racing stable in Kentucky and having a Kentucky Derby winner! Alas, this dream did not come true , but I had fun fantasizing about it--and that's all I did about it, which is one reason it never came true , lol!

BJS: What advice can you offer a new children's writer?
ANN: Practice your craft, and persist! Keep writing and keep submitting! Too many aspiring writers give up after a few rejections. I have stacks and stacks of reject letters, most them the dreaded "form" reject. But I have several books, many short stories, and over 100 greeting cards to my credit, and the fact that I was too stubborn to give up has a lot to do with it, I think.

BJS: What is your latest book?
ANN: My latest book is a YA romance, AN ADORABLE COUPLE, published as an ebook and in paperback. It's the story of a girl who struggles with her new authority as editor of the yearbook when handsome Matt joins the staff and has his own ideas on how to do things. It's available from New Concepts Publishing at http://www.newconceptspublishing.com/anadorablecouple.htm.

Ann invites you to visit her website at
http://ann.herrick.home.att.net



Betty Jo Schuler is the author of several books for children, teens, and adults.