Friday Feature: Journeys Toward Publication and Beyond: Shannon O'Donnell

Welcome to today's Friday Feature. This week we are exploring the journey of picture book and chapter book writer, Shannon O'Donnell. Shannon is a wonderfully supportive blogger, and her comments always make me smile. Each blog post at her blog, Book Dreaming, is a wonderful balance between interesting photos, amazing quotes, and her own writing experience. I love visiting because I always, always take something away from it. She gets me thinking! This is my most recent favorite post, about the virtue of being disloyal to that first draft--something I know a bit about! I am excited to introduce Shannon on the blog today. Make sure to leave her a question or comment in the comment section, and visit her blog on the way out!

Welcome, Shannon! Thanks for being here today. Tell us a little about yourself.

A high school English teacher, I have a master's degree in Education and serve as my school district's writing specialist and 6 Traits of Writing trainer. I specialize in training teachers about the value of children’s books (picture – YA) as teaching tools, across the curriculum and at all grade levels. I am a member of the Montana Educators Association & Federation of Teachers, an affiliate of both the NEA and the NFT, and am a committee chair for the Montana State Reading Council. In addition to Scott and the Naughty Boy Factory, I have nearly completed its sequel, Molly and the Naughty Girl Workshop.

Shannon, what are you currently working on?

I’m currently working on a chapter book called, Scott and the Naughty Boy Factory. I originally wrote and queried it as a picture book, before realizing the story didn’t want to be a PB. It wanted to be a chapter book. We had a tug-of-war of wills, and the story won. I’ve been re-working it for about a year now.

I love that--the tug of war of wills. The book always wins in the end, I think! What made you start to write seriously?

I’ve dreamt of writing picture books for as long as I can remember. It was my husband who finally pushed me off the ledge. I think we all need someone behind us, cheering us on, believing we can do it. After a few years of nagging, I started my first picture book.

What a supportive husband! Tell us, what stage are you at, currently, in your journey toward publication? And--how is that going for you? Has anything surprised you about this stage?

Right now, I’m waiting for critique feedback on the Naughty Boy Factory. I’ve been struggling with the ending for a while, but I think it’s getting close. If I get a green light from the girls, I’ll do a final proof and then get ready to query. As for surprises, I think I’ve been floored by how long this process actually takes. I can only pray “time” is a little kinder to me in the querying process.

Oh, the waiting for feedback stage. That's one of my least favorite stages. I bet you're spending some time on the internet as you wait! If you had to pick one favorite blog, what would it be?

Ouch! Now, that’s not a very nice question. Only one? There are blogs I love for their quality writing lessons, blogs I love for their humor, blogs I love for their content, and blogs I love for their blogger. If I HAD to choose only one, though, I think it would be “The Bookshelf Muse”. I have a folder full of Angela’s valuable writing lessons and advice – especially her Thesaurus entry posts. On any day, I can take Angela’s lesson and immediately apply it to my WIP.

What is a favorite blog post that you have written?

Hmmm. I think my favorites are “The Runaway Tree”, “Cavewriting”, and “My Paragraphs are Frankensteins”. The first two are posts based on Barry Lane’s book, After the End. The third is a lesson based on something from Stephen King’s, On Writing.

What online resource have you found most helpful?

“Guide to Literary Agents” by Chuck Sambuchino. The information on that site is priceless. I love the way information is organized into user-friendly categories. The “successful queries” category is extremely helpful, and I love the New Agency Alerts.

Shannon, what has been your biggest trial in writing?

Patience! I’m the kind of person who wants something yesterday. Waiting has always been hard for me, even with little things. As we all know, writing is all about waiting. Waiting to finish the draft. Waiting to edit the draft. Waiting to finish editing the draft. Waiting to hear back from all those query letters written in blood. I can’t tell you how difficult that is for someone like me.

What tricks have you acquired to make you write or create when you don’t feel up to writing?

There are tricks? What tricks? Lately, the best way to give myself a good kick in the rear is to cruise our blogging circle. The trials and tribulations and successes of blogger buddies is a real motivator for me.

I agree whole-heartedly--our blogging buddies have much wisdom to impart! Tell us about a book that has impacted your writing life.

Patricia Polacco and William Steig are two of my writer heroes. Oh, how I love Patricia Polacco! As for a writing tool, I think Steven king’s On Writing is my favorite.

What is your practical goal with your writing? Do you have a reach-for-the-stars goal that you would like to share?

My practical goal is to be published – to hold a book in my hand and see my own name on the cover.
A reach-for-the-stars goal would be to walk into Barnes and Noble and see my book, sitting face out, on a shelf.

I can't wait for that day! So far, what has been the best part of your writing experience?

The best thing that ever happened to me as a writer was finding all of you. Seriously. I have never felt more encouraged, more driven to succeed, and more understood than I do within this blogging community. It’s wonderful to know I’m not alone. I love it that we can all share our hopes and fears and successes (Beth Revis!!) with each other.

If you could create the perfect place for you to write in, what would it look like?

It would be a pale yellow room, with huge windows and a view of water. I would sit at a beautiful antique desk, in a fluffy-soft, cushioned chair, tapping away on a new Macintosh computer. Canisters of peanut M&M’s and other misc. chocolates would line shelves within my reach, and a mini fridge filled with ice-cold Pepsi would sit nearby. And because it would be a kid-free, husband-free zone, I would hear only silence.

Sounds dreamy. I hope the walls are sound proof! If you could be a character in a book, and live within their world, what character would you be?

Oh, that’s an easy one. I would be Meg from Inkheart, living inside the ink world with Mo and Dustfinger.

I haven't read Inkheart--it's going on my list right now! What other distractions are in your life?

I work to keep up with my three children and their busy schedules, while teaching high school English full time. We’re trying to sell our house, so cleaning is a way of life right now. It isn’t easy being prepared to show your house on a moment’s notice with three kids and a hubby!

And, just because I’m curious, coffee or tea?

COFFEE! I like my coffee with a little flavored creamer, but my favorite is an extra-hot, vanilla latte.

Shannon--thanks for the wonderful interview. I'm amazed at how much you've accomplished while raising a beautiful family and working full time! And your chapter book sounds so compelling! Everyone, show Shannon lots of love by leaving her a question or comment in the comment section, and let's keep this discussion going! (And don't forget to visit Shannon's blog, Book Dreaming, on the way out!)