Ask the Author: Suzanne Slade
Answered Questions (4)
Suzanne Slade
Nice to meet you Alexandra! Congrats on starting your Masters program. My advice would be to try and view your classes/writing as a "journey", knowing that every journey has its ups and downs, which is how we learn and foster resilience. I recall being very excited when I received my first rejection letter on a story because it made me feel like I was "in the writing game." But that excitement didn't last long as my "perceived" failures kept piling up. What I didn't realize at the time was that each one of these "failures" were opportunities that taught me something, and I was slowly moving toward my goal of becoming a better writer. I started writing after I quit my engineering job to become a full-time mother. Classes, critique groups, and lots of practice helped me learn the craft of writing picture books, which I'm still learning a great deal about. Best of luck on your writing journey! :)
Suzanne Slade
I got the idea for THE MUSIC IN GEORGE'S HEAD: GEORGE GERSHWIN CREATES RHAPSODY IN BLUE while watching a PBS fireworks show on the Fourth of July. In the background Rhapsody in Blue was playing and the commentator mentioned when George first performed the piece he didn't have any sheet music, but rather played the notes in his head. That was the spark I needed to start researching and writing that book.
Suzanne Slade
The best thing about being a writer is the moment when a wonderful new story idea comes to you, and the next best thing is the day (after much research, revisions, and doubt) when you finally have that first draft of a story that is pretty decent. I know there is still a long revision road ahead at that point, but it very exciting to have that first complete draft.
Suzanne Slade
I'm working on several books right now. The two coming up next are both about strong women in history who each made a big difference in the world. The first is naturalist and artist, Anna Comstock titled OUT OF SCHOOL AND INTO NATURE: THE ANNA COMSTOCK STORY. (releases March 2017) It shares a lot of interesting information about nature while encouraging readers to go outside and experience nature. My next book, DANGEROUS JANE, shares the true story of Jane Addams who the FBI named the Most Dangerous Woman in America, yet she later was the first American woman awarded the Nobel Peace Prize. Her story is fascinating!
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