A Goodreads user asked Mrs. D.:

What inspired you to write children's books. Did you traditionally publish or did you self-publish?

Mrs. D. Thank you for your question, Jocelyne. Writing for children is like playing a game: you win or you lose. There is no middle ground. I must surround myself with their imagination. I must go to their level and see the story from their viewpoint. Children have a most unpredictable imagination and hunger for knowledge. If I do not get their attention from the first paragraph, then I have lost them. I must also see the story from the viewpoint of their parents. It is hard to be a grown-up and child at the same time, and that is why writing for children is not an easy task. What I like most about writing for children is reliving the special moments, when I feel as if I am a child again. When my story makes me laugh or cry, then I know I got it right. In my opinion, children’s books must teach both child and parent.
However, as much as I like creating stories, my best part is working with the illustrator and watching the characters come to life. It is a very intensive, but thrilling process. First, I write notes for the illustrator and describe each character and scene. Then, based on descriptions, the illustrator creates the characters. We go back and forth frequently with the first sketches until we get it right and we are both satisfied. After that, the illustrator is working on the sketches and I keep writing. It takes a long time before I see how the illustrations will appear in book form. Before the coloring stage, we correct every small detail. Each illustration must represent the story correctly. Usually I do not see the coloured illustrations until they are completed. Once they are coloured, I can finally see my words transformed into pictures. However, the work does not stop there. We still correct images, check faces for consistency, and other small elements that we may have overlooked during the sketching stage. Sometimes it takes time and sometimes it goes easy, but it is worth our sweat and efforts, because a child who spends time with a well-written and well-illustrated book will want to read it over and over, and eventually will grow into a lifelong reader. I am a self-published author.

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