Ask the Author: Russell Whitehead
Answered Questions (8)
Russell Whitehead
I don't know. I know he opened a pizza restaurant in Jackson GA thats doing pretty well.
Russell Whitehead
Aragon and Arwen. The way they spoke to each other on the bridge in Rivendale. Scene 26 The Evenstar, that did it for me. Ok...it was mostly Liv Tyler. But anyway...
Russell Whitehead
I get a lot of my ideas from conversations and observations of things that occur spontaneously during the course of living everyday. 'The Sparrow Princess' happened just that way. It's a story that is very special to me because it was inspired by a conversation I had with my granddaughter, who was four years old at the time.
It began as a bedtime story three years ago and has now evolved into a fairytale novella for upper middle grade and young adult readers.
I won't tell you about that conversation here. Let me just say that one day when she reads this story she'll recognize the references. And you will too!
It began as a bedtime story three years ago and has now evolved into a fairytale novella for upper middle grade and young adult readers.
I won't tell you about that conversation here. Let me just say that one day when she reads this story she'll recognize the references. And you will too!
Russell Whitehead
I've found that the most meaningful insights happen when I'm not expecting it. However, once inspired to write about something I do try to research and learn about the subject. I try to find ways to stay in touch with it and keep the inspiration flowing. It becomes a chain reaction of processing information and forming new ideas.
Sometimes inspiration comes from a casual conversation.
Example:
a story I wrote called "Beware the Turkeysaurus!"
I had gone to visit my grandson (who is in 1st grade) at his school to have lunch. There was a kid sitting next to us and I noticed I he wasn't eating. I asked him how he liked the dinosaur meat they were serving today.
He said "It's not dinosaur meat. It's turkey."
I said, "Yeah but did you know that a million billion years ago Turkeys were as big as dinosaurs. In fact they were bigger than any dinosaur ever! In fact they would eat a T-Rex for breakfast!"
"And whenever they would eat them, they would let out a terrible sound...GOBBLE! GOBBLE! GOBBLE! The sound they made could be heard for miles!"
The kid says, "Nah! That's not true!"
So I say, "Oh yes it is! They may have shrunk down to a tiny bird-like size. But to this day they still make that terrible sound. GOBBLE! GOBBLE! GOBBLE!"
I could tell...he was considering the possibility that it might be true.
That's when I knew I had a story. I'm going to publish it one day!
Sometimes inspiration comes from a casual conversation.
Example:
a story I wrote called "Beware the Turkeysaurus!"
I had gone to visit my grandson (who is in 1st grade) at his school to have lunch. There was a kid sitting next to us and I noticed I he wasn't eating. I asked him how he liked the dinosaur meat they were serving today.
He said "It's not dinosaur meat. It's turkey."
I said, "Yeah but did you know that a million billion years ago Turkeys were as big as dinosaurs. In fact they were bigger than any dinosaur ever! In fact they would eat a T-Rex for breakfast!"
"And whenever they would eat them, they would let out a terrible sound...GOBBLE! GOBBLE! GOBBLE! The sound they made could be heard for miles!"
The kid says, "Nah! That's not true!"
So I say, "Oh yes it is! They may have shrunk down to a tiny bird-like size. But to this day they still make that terrible sound. GOBBLE! GOBBLE! GOBBLE!"
I could tell...he was considering the possibility that it might be true.
That's when I knew I had a story. I'm going to publish it one day!
Russell Whitehead
I'm currently working on the final edits of a new book for MG/YA entitled "The Sparrow Princess" It's a fantasy story about love and revenge...and the people who get caught in between. Kickoff for this project is slated for Summer 2016.
Russell Whitehead
Imagination is a wonderful thing to have. However real life experiences are just as important. Keep writing and working towards perfection. But, don't forget to live a little too!
Russell Whitehead
I've always enjoyed exploring the world through the veil of imagination. That, together with a strong desire to connect with people and be heard, makes writing a perfect outlet for me. Reading positive reviews and hearing about parents and children who are enjoying the stories I've written are two of the most satisfying experiences I can imagine.
Russell Whitehead
Whenever I'm stuck I tend to focus my attention elsewhere for awhile. I let my writing sit and find some other way to be creative. For me a lot of times that means puppetry. When I'm ready to begin again, I always read over my synopsis first to make sure I'm headed in the right direction.
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