Hello Diamond Miners! Our author today is one after my own heart with her children's picture books. Let's get to know her!
Meet Becky Van Vleet, award wining author of the adorable children’s book titled Talitha, the Traveling Skirt. Becky creates a wonderful tale of a skirt that travels through a family for seventy years. Her unique story telling with this book will continue to the next book in her “Traveling Series”, Harvey, the Traveling Harmonica. She has received the Purple Dragonfly Award and the EIE Award.
Let’s get started Becky. Can you tell us a little about yourself?
I'm a sixty-something newbie at writing. I've been married to my college sweetheart for forty-six years. After raising four daughters (yes, my husband survived hormone hill), we are now enjoying life as empty nesters. Our eight grandchildren are an added blessing!
How long have you been writing?
I did very little writing in my younger years. I
completed writing assignments in high school and college, and that was about
it. However, when I started teaching writing in my sixth-grade classes in 2005,
I felt the bite of a writing bug. I enjoyed teaching writing and I worked on my
own writing skills with my students cheering me on. When I retired in 2016, I finally
had the time to connect my thoughts to my keyboard at a very personal level for
the first time. And I’ve been writing as a hobby ever since.
Your book Talitha, the Traveling Skirt sounds adorable. Do you want to write in any other genres?
When I wrote my first four children’s picture books, I
never imagined I’d hop around with genres. But I recently completed my first
adult historical novel, and I surprised myself for how much I enjoyed writing
at a whole new level. My debut novel is slated to be published in 2022. I’m
currently working on a devotional book. And that’s a new path for sure. But I’m
quite certain I will go back to children’s picture books!
Writers always have favorite authors. Who is your favorite author?
Going back to my childhood, Beverly Cleary, author of the Henry and Ribsy and Ramona books, unquestionably advanced my love of reading and I truly admired her. I would save my babysitting money and purchase her books for fifty cents, and my childhood book collection grew. Today, Patricia Polacco is one of my top favorite children’s book authors. I love her writing style, and I really appreciate her talent for bringing her personal family stories to light in the forms of creative books for children to enjoy.
What is the hardest part of writing a
book for you?
Hands down, the hardest part for me is coming up with ideas and then expounding upon them for creative and clever writing. When I read other authors’ books, I think to myself, how did they ever come up with that idea?
Do you have a favorite spot that helps your creative juices flow?
I’m as snug as a bug in my swivel chair in front of my desk and computer. No fancy answers here! I sip on a cup of tea and tell Alexa to play classical music, and I’m good to go.
Are you a night owl writer or an early bird or some bird in between?
I typically take a walk in the morning after breakfast, and then I dig into whatever writing project I’m working on. I’ll work more after lunch as well. Not much writing comes out of me in the evenings.
If you could talk to any author for a sit-down
chat, who would it be?
I’ve love to sit down with children’s book author Patricia Polacco and bend her ear for how she comes up with her ideas for her personal family stories. I’d ask her for tips for how she develops the storyline and lessons for children to learn.
Tell us about any hobbies you have before we're done today.
I enjoy gardening, oil painting, hiking and biking around in God's great playground He designed in Colorado. Oh, and I love to eat cotton candy!
This has been fun, Becky! Thanks for sharing your new book series with us. I look forward to future installments of your "Traveling Series".
Diamond Miners, be sure and visit Becky's website to read some of her personal stories on her blog and check out her other books that are coming soon.
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