Interview with Author Deb Allard
Interview with Author Deb Allard…
Christian wife, mother, and grandmother of eight who gets caught up in inventing stories for children of all ages. She was once a child, too, she remembers with a chuckle. Playing cops and robbers as well as other games outdoors infused her childhood days with creativity while reading exciting stories at night fostered her imagination. In addition to studying with The Institute of Children’s Literature, Deb holds degrees in psychology and nursing. She spent over twenty-five years as a Registered Nurse. Never bored for a second, she strives to pen entertaining books that will inspire children to have a passion for reading.
Tell readers a few things about yourself.
While growing up, my favorite pastime was reading, but books unexpectedly led to sleepwalking. My mother often found me verbally and physically reenacting stories in the middle of the night. When my mother explained my actions, I realized they were scenes from books I read before bedtime. Unfortunately, I had no recall of those events the next day. How I wish I could remember interacting with swashbuckling characters. As an adult, I still enjoy books with quirky plots and characters as well as ones with a unique author “voice.” Also, I gravitate toward stories laced with humor. Humor brightened my days during childhood.
Did you always want to write?
Yes! After learning to read in the first grade, I sharpened my pencil and set about writing. During early elementary school, I wrote and illustrated short books and read them to my class. I was blessed with teachers who encouraged me all the way through college.
Current Work
What book or article are you currently working on?
I’m working on four middle-grade books–each one in a different stage of development–all because of my attention deficit disorder. When I need a break from one tale, I pick up the storyline on another. My favorite one right now is a sci-fi for fourth through sixth graders. It’s about a young boy who is chosen as the Challenger to save planet Zygar and the world. Some will say, “That storyline has been done many times over,” but every author puts his/her own unique spin on characters, twists, and turns. In addition to these books in progress, in their September issue, the teen devotional Keys for Kids will print a devotion I wrote.
Do you write in silence or with background noise/music?
When my ideas are flowing, I like silence, so I can plant the details in my story before I forget them. If I’m editing, I like background noise such as the banter on fixer-upper type shows. I pause, watch a little of the show, then resume editing. Quite often, after deleting a comma, I learn a great remodeling idea for my home.
What do you want your readers to take away from your books/writing?
Problem-solving skills–ones like working as a team, figuring out solutions, coping with bullies, overcoming fear, treating others as you want to be treated, thinking not only of your needs but also the needs of others. My goals are to keep a biblical world view in mind at all times and to inspire in children a passion for reading.
Inspiration to Write
Where do you get your inspiration to write?
Books and movies geared for youth keep me grounded in what they enjoy, but my inspiration comes from my surroundings. When I’m at the mall, or out to dinner, or at the beach, I’m always listening to conversations.
Youth can say the most interesting things. I hear their problems and frustrations and their likes and dislikes. I hear how they speak to their parents or pay attention to how they clam up. And, I observe sibling and peer interactions and word choices. having eight grandchildren ages five to seventeen helps as well.
Once in a while, someone asks me, “How can you write for youth? You’re a grandma.” My reply is this, “I was young once, and I’ve never forgotten the ups and downs, the rollercoaster rides of hormones and angst, or my excitement and creativity. I relive memories every time I hear kids share their own.” Just as King Solomon once said, “There is nothing new under the sun.” Today, the settings and technology are new, and there are a few different words or ways of speaking, but the same old problems exist as they have since God banished Adam and Eve from the Garden of Eden. Besides, if my stories help just one child overcome a problem or find creative joy, my time at the keyboard is well spent.
Info for Young Writers
Did you dream of being a writer/author when you were young?
I never thought of putting my stories on paper as a career until my senior year in high school. But, realizing I’d need to support myself, led me to become a registered nurse. I loved the excitement of peers enjoying my adventures, though.
What advice do you have for young writers?
My advice for young writers is not simply to read but to fall in love with reading. Besides, experiencing new worlds and learning problem-solving skills, reading books subconsciously teaches many things such as the elements of a good story–the beginning hooks, characters, plots, twists and turns, climactic endings, as well as the basics like punctuation and grammar. Our brains absorb these fundamentals while we’re lost in the plot.
You can find Deb at her author page and on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
Thank you for reading the Interview with Author Deb Allard. If you are looking for more authors to get to know, you can find others at the Monday Morning Author Interview Blog.
Another grade middle-grade author to get to know is Shelley Pierce. She’s written a wonderful middle-grade series that you don’t want to miss!
