Ask the Author: Mary T. Wilkinson
Answered Questions (6)
Mary T. Wilkinson
The best thing about being a writer is being able to create characters that others will feel strongly for or against, and exciting plots that will change those characters for the better. I want all of my books to bring glory to God, and by showing how He can change hearts, I think they do.
Mary T. Wilkinson
I loved to tell stories for my 12 siblings. In High school, I was asked to write a memoir and had a lot of fun doing it. After receiving a good grade, I thought I'd like to be a writer some day, but instead became an Elementary teacher. I taught 5th and 6th graders and read everything they read. Middle grade books are fascinating to me. I just knew I could write one of these stories that my students would like. That book was my first novel, Call Me Lizzy, and my students loved it.
Mary T. Wilkinson
I am currently writing a Middle Grade novel about a boy who has always gone to private school. Now, as he starts his 6th grade year, he has to go to public school, much to his dismay. He encounters a lot of bullies, but uses his intelligence and humor to outwit them. There is one room in the building that the secretary tells him to stay away from, Room 101. The boy is curious and looks into room 101 anyway. He is shocked at what he sees.
Mary T. Wilkinson
Read good books in the genre you want to reach. Know what people like in that genre. Try to be original and different from what you are reading, but stay in that way of thinking. My book was originally for Middle Grades, so I read everything I could in MG books. I found that popular books in that genre had sections in them concerning school. I had to fit that in my book. My character had to go to school, but the circumstances of where she went to school had to be different, not like everybody else's. Good luck with your writing!
Mary T. Wilkinson
A lot of my ideas come when I am almost asleep. My mind is always working, never wanting to turn off when I lie down at night. So I keep a notebook by my bed and write down all of the ideas that are flowing through my brain. Then I can sleep, knowing I will not forget those ideas the next day. When I get stuck in my writing, I can pull out that notebook and it usually gets me going again.
Mary T. Wilkinson
I got the idea for this book by a new acquaintance telling me that her parents had divorced when she was a young girl and she had to stay with two different sets of grandparents. One set took her to the American Legion and let her play bingo with them. The other set were very religious and took her to church 3 days a week. I asked her if she minded me taking this little bit of information and make a book around this idea. She agreed and ending up being a great friend as I got to know her better. Her life is nothing like Lizzy's except for the little bit she told me years ago. I dedicated the book to her and my husband.
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