Interview with Carla Mooney, author of Owen and the Dragon

Readers:

Allow me to introduce you to Carla Mooney, fellow writer, Indie-Debut member, and author of Owen and the Dragon. Carla was kind enough to answer a few questions.

How long have you been writing, and what inspired you to begin seriously devoting yourself to the craft of writing?


I’ve been writing since I was a child, but as an adult had moved away from writing fiction and concentrated more on business writing. Then about 3 ½ years ago, my son developed leukemia and I quit my accounting consulting job to take care of him. It was during that time that I decided to turn back to something that I loved – writing, specifically writing for children.


How do you live your life like a writer? What day-to-day habits must you incorporate into your routine?


I am an early morning person, so I usually get the bulk of my writing done between 5 and 7 am, sometimes earlier if I have a deadline fast approaching. If I can sneak in another hour or two to write when my son is at preschool, that’s great. The rest of the day, I try to take care of emails, sending out proposals or packets. If I’m not falling asleep on my pillow, I try to read at night after the kids go to bed – either something that I’m researching or a new YA or MG book that I’ve heard about.


Who are some of the authors you lean on most for inspiration and craft when you get stuck in your own writing?


I usually have a few projects going at the same time. So if I get stuck on one, I tend to switch gears and take a break from it. Sometimes taking time away can help give me perspective on what isn’t working. Recently, I’ve been having a plot problem in one of my books. Reading the Hunger Games books by Suzanne Collins has been especially inspiring. As I read them, I was just amazed at how she built such a gripping plot with turns and twists throughout the books.


In your opinion, how important is the link between avid reading and strong writing?


I think it is extremely important. Even when I read a book that I don’t like or don’t connect with, I try to think about what specifically turned me off. Was the plot too slow? Was it too wordy? If it was a picture book, was it too clunky to read aloud? Looking at the book through the eyes of a reader helps me evaluate my own work in the same way.


What can you tell us about your current projects?


I’m working on a new book about the Explorers of the New World that should take me most of the summer to complete. I’ll be developing a bunch of projects for this book, so I’ve already warned my kids and their friends to get ready around the kitchen table!


I’m also very excited about my first picture book, Samson’s Story, coming out with Earth Day Publishing this fall. It’s the story of a boy with leukemia told through the eyes of his dog. He has feelings that anyone who has loved a person with a serious illness can relate to. Given my personal connection to this topic, I’m thrilled that a portion of the proceeds will be going to cancer related charities.


Where can we go to learn more about you?


There are lots of places! My website is www.carlamooney.com
You can also follow me on my blog at http://carlamooney.livejournal.com/ or on Twitter as Carlawrites.

~Scott
"Live, Learn, Teach"
www.scotthbooks.com
www.micedonttastelikechicken.com