I am honored and extremely grateful that Cardigan Press has accepted my anecdotal vignette into their debut anthology, BYLINE LEGACIES, set to be released September 2021. They graciously invited me to participate in their Contributor Interview series, and what a delight it was. Below you will find portions of my interview. To read more, visit Cardigan Press and learn about the editors Jaime Dill and Lizzie Thornton.
Cardigan Press Contributor Interview Series
Hi, Guitar, welcome to our blog! We’re so delighted to introduce you to everyone. What genres/age ranges do you typically gravitate toward in your writing?
Throughout my life I have always gravitated towards children — I was the teenage babysitter who took care of the neighborhood kids. I was the Sunday School teacher who taught children biblical lessons. I was the medical student who chose a career in pediatrics. It was no surprise to me that when I began writing, I wrote for kids.
I write stories for early readers to foster their growth and development, and perhaps shape the adults they will become.
Having the chance to publish something that’s not a picture book must have been a unique change for you! In what way is your submission to Cardigan Press similar and/or different from your usual kid writing?
My submission to Cardigan Press is quite different from my usual writing, primarily in the word count! Traditionally, in the picture book world, less than 600 words is the goal to establish character, create an emotional arc, and present a thoughtful, non-didactic lesson. With my anecdotal vignette, lyrical words were my oyster.
There is a common thread that shines in my KidLit writing that did sneak its way into my Cardigan Press submission— my writing style. I instinctively write in a pattern of three. The reader will find, sprinkled throughout my anecdotal vignette, what I call “the power of three” subtly utilized to tell my story.
The usefulness of repetition and grouped arguments continues well beyond picture books and into adult reading. These devices worked so beautifully in your submission to support your message. We can’t wait for people to read it in September! Until then — how can the community best support your work?
The online writing community has been incredibly supportive with their words and encouragement towards every writer, and I have felt a great deal of genuine care from fellow writers towards me. All I ask is that, as a community, we continue to share our resources, celebrate each other’s success, and lift one another when there is perceived failure. That’s all I ask for. There are too many moments in this writer’s life where impostor syndrome devastates the imaginary landscape. Having a community that has my proverbial back is perhaps the best way a reader can support my writing career.
How incredibly inspiring! Oof, that request hits hard in the feels. We, too, love our precious writing community. Thank you so much, Guitar, for hanging out with us. We’re so excited for readers to explore your writing and get to know you!