Ask the Author: Sherri Winston
Answered Questions (6)
Sherri Winston
President of the Whole Sixth Grade is a follow-up to President of the Whole Fifth Grade. And though they follow a sequence, the books are not a series and the second book is quite independent of the first. The idea for the second was spurred by the growing movement to recognize and applaud women in politics and was particularly informed by the Texas Congresswoman who gained national attention a few years back for her filibuster. To utilize a filibuster in a contemporary novel in a fresh way was exciting. I'm quite proud of how it turned out.
Sherri Winston
My mother was a huge reader when I was a kid; I grew to love books, too. Even before I could read, however, I loved making up stories. Or at least, that's the word on the family grapevine. My grandmother used to lament, "Child you've got more imagination than common sense!" Of course, I believe that followed my attempt at being Superman and jumping off a chair and trying to fly. Hmm...
Sherri Winston
I am currently working on another middle grade due out in 2016. I'm really proud of it and can't wait to share it. The style is quite different from President and it will showcase poetry that I've written expressly for use in this book. I can't wait.
Sherri Winston
Write. Don't get caught up in how you're going to market your book that you haven't written; or what is the best media strategy for your book that you haven't written. Tell the story that is in your heart--tell it with all the passion and warts that happen on the page. Don't worry about perfecting a manuscript you haven't written or getting an agent for a manuscript you've never written. First, write. Always, write.
Sherri Winston
I love storytelling. I love sitting on a subway when I visit New York, or on an airplane when I go home to Michigan, and eavesdrop on people and then imagine the hidden story about their lives. Sometimes they are magical people who don't want anyone to discover their secrets; sometimes they are psychos; sometimes they are trying to take over the world. Then, of course, they deplane and I get to fill in the blanks. Awesome!
Sherri Winston
If it's really bad and I'm just writing gibberish because I feel stuck, I'll give myself a day or two off. Then I do something completely different--like draw or play with Legos or take the dog walking in a place we've never been. Believe it or not, the dog walking thing works 90 percent of the time.
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