LTS: For today’s guest blog, I’d like to introduce you to the award-winning children’s author, Anita Reynolds MacArthur! She is the creator of the beautifully illustrated tales of Prince Hayden MacCheeky. I’d like to begin by having you share a little information about yourself with our readers, Anita. What do you enjoy doing when you are not writing?
ARM: What a nice introduction Lorna. Thank you so much for the opportunity. What do I enjoy doing when I’m not writing? I love spending time with my family. Aside from being a writer, I work full-time so any time left in the day to spend with my three kiddies is time well spent. If I had a genie in a bottle, I’d wish for at least one more hour in the day that I would spend on reading. There never seems to be enough time to read the stacks of novels I keep buying.
LTS: Has writing stories always been a part of your life and becoming a published author, a lifelong dream?
ARM: I have loved reading and writing from as far back as I can remember. I wrote my first story when I was 12 years old and had my first article published in the local paper when I was 16. Growing up, I was a voracious reader—I devoured books. I used to ride my bike to the library, fill a backpack with books, strap on the backpack, and cycle home. I did this so often that my Dad thought I was meeting a boy there! No worries Dad. I was just reading.
LTS: Your first book, A Royal Little Pest was named one of Canada’s “Top 10 Great Books for Children 2010”! What was the inspiration behind this story and can you tell us a little bit about your protagonist, Prince Hayden MacCheeky?
ARM: I worked for 15 years editing other people’s words before deciding to write some words of my own. As a mother of three, I felt it was important to create a series of picture books with colourful characters who were cheeky yet endearing at the same time. The stories needed to engage boys, as well as girls, and appeal to the reluctant reader. I wanted to create books that parents would be interested in reading with their children. The underlying simple life lesson that is woven into each story easily translates to a classroom setting so teachers can use these as Read-Aloud books with their students.
Both MacCheeky picture books follow the cheeky antics of Prince Hayden MacCheeky as he learns to share and get along with his siblings. Simply put? Prince Hayden MacCheeky is a royal little pest!
LTS: Without giving away too much, can you reveal what’s in store for the young readers when they crack open A Royal Little Pest?
ARM: In A Royal Little Pest, Prince Hayden MacCheeky is a real little prince who learns that playing with his royal siblings is way more fun than imitating and irritating them.
In A Royal Little Pest: Mine!, Prince Hayden MacCheeky is a real little prince who learns that a little royal sharing leads to a lot of royal fun for everyone.
LTS: Your books are well received, garnering great reviews and yet, you chose to go the indie route. What made you decide to do self-publish your first two picture books?
ARM: Educational and trade publishing are two very different beasts. Although I have spent my career in educational publishing, I have no contacts on the trade side of publishing. No matter how hard I tried, I couldn’t get an agent or publisher’s attention. Without an “in” in this industry, it is like winning the lottery for an unpublished writer to sign with a publisher or even an agent for that matter. I knew that A Royal Little Pest would be accepted by the marketplace because I had tested it over and over in classrooms. I also had a vision for the artwork. So I decided to throw caution to the wind and follow my dream by travelling down the indie route. Am I ever glad I did!
LTS: I know what you mean! I've had two literary agents over the past 10 years and even with a great literary agent, it doesn't guarantee one will get published. So, what is the best and the worst part of self-publishing?
ARM: The best part of self-publishing—my favourite moments—turned out to be a complete surprise! I had no idea that writing these stories would lead me into schools and libraries to read my picture books and discuss the importance of literacy. Meeting young readers and getting them exciting about reading and writing has been the most rewarding and satisfying part of this process for me.
The worst part—my biggest challenge—in this process as an indie author has been underestimating how much time I would have to dedicate to each book. When I first embarked on this journey, I thought the bulk of my time would be spent writing, producing, and publishing my stories. But that does not compare to the time spent on promoting the MacCheeky series, visiting schools and libraries, attending book fairs, blogging, as well as maintaining the website and social media outlets.
LTS: What is the most important lesson you’ve learned on the road to publication?
ARM: Trust your instincts and believe in yourself. If something doesn’t feel right, it probably isn’t right. If people shoot down your dream—and some will—don’t listen to their negativity. Always trust your instincts and believe in yourself.
LTS: I know many self-published authors, myself included, struggle to get our books into the Canadian library system. Even with great reviews from Midwest Book Reviews and a major motion picture trilogy in development now, I found it next to impossible to get my books into the libraries. Do you have any advice you can share on this subject?
ARM: I’m afraid I haven’t cracked that code either. It seems more and more that libraries are going the route of bookstores. If you’re not already a well-known author on the New York Times Bestseller List, you don’t stand a chance of staying on bookstore shelves—even when you sell out. It’s a chicken and egg situation. How do you experience repeat sell-outs if bookstores don’t restock? If you don’t sell out repeatedly, how do you become a well-known, big name author?
LTS: On the subject of writing styles, are you a plotter or pantser? The readers would like to know if you tend to plot out your story line in great detail or if your writing is more organic with the characters and events unfolding as you write.
ARM: I am definitely a panster. I know the beginning and the ending of a story but how the characters and story line evolves from beginning to end happens organically. I find my mind works more creatively that way.
LTS: Some authors meditate, others need to fuel up on coffee or listen to music. Do you have any rituals, ones that can be shared with the readers, that you must do before you hunker down for a writing session?
ARM: I don’t have any real rituals, per say. I still have my “day job” so any actual writing time is done at night after the kids go to bed. I know, writing is best done in the morning and during the day. I don’t have that luxury—yet. That being said, my writing process seems to unfold naturally throughout the day. I get most of my thoughts on my way to work, especially when I’m sitting in traffic. Then, while at the office, I’ll jot my ideas down in point form on a pad of paper as the ideas come to me. Once back home, and the kids are tucked under the covers, the actual writing takes place.
LTS: Who is your favourite author and how has he/she inspired you to write or influenced your writing style or choice of genre?
ARM: I have many favourite authors but if I had to pick just one, I’d have to say that my favourite author is… Julia Donaldson, author of The Gruffalo. It’s a wonderful story about a mouse in the woods. The little mouse scares away larger animals by claiming to have a large monstrous friend the Gruffalo. The story is sprinkled with humour. I read that story to my children so many times that we had to by a second book because the spine broke! There were always giggles every time I read it. I want my stories to have that same impact on children. I love it when parents and grandparents roll their eyes as they tell me that they’ve read my stories aloud over and over and over. I feel their pain—not! What I feel is the joy in knowing that children want to hear the MacCheeky stories over and over and over.
LTS: What do you foresee in your future over the next five years and do you hope to branch out into other genres? Can your fans expect the third book in the Prince Hayden MacCheeky series in the near future?
ARM: I am excited to share the news that both picture books in the MacCheeky series are now available as interactive digital apps on iTunes for iPad, Phone, and iPod Touch. The third story in the same series has been written and illustrations are underway. There has been a lot of demand from readers to see more of Prince Hayden MacCheeky's royal dog Goober. Let's just say that the third story is aptly called The Best Pet of All.
I’m also working on my first story for MG readers about a girl named Ellie whose best friend is a boy named Finn. Her parents call him her imaginary friend. Her older sister thinks Finn might be Ellie’s guardian angel. Ellie doesn’t care what labels other people give him. All she knows is that Finn has been her best friend forever and she pushed him away. Deliberately. Now she wants him back. Where did Finn go? How will she find him? Oooh! I am definitely a panster. I can’t wait to see how this story unfolds.
I will continue along this indie route but I am not opposed to discussing unpublished works with potential agents and/or publishers.
Lorna, thank you again for this wonderful opportunity. It’s been a treat!
LTS: Thank you so much for taking the time to share in your stories and in your writing experiences, Anita! Catch you on Twitter!
For more information about Anita and her books, check out:
Website: http://maccheeky.com/ Follow Anita on Twitter: .KidLitAnita
or https://twitter.com/KidLitAnita
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MacCheeky?ref=hl
Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/kidlitanita/
Where to buy the book: Both hardcover picture books are available in bookstores and online via amazon.com. A Royal Little Pest and A Royal Little Pest: Mine! are also available in digital interactive format on iTunes as Apps for iPad, iPhone, and iPod Touch.
