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MEET JANE CASTILLO
by Ann Stalcup

What did you most like to do when you were a child? 

Jane Castillo

I liked to read and draw.  I  would spend hours and hours entering into the different worlds that the written word invited me into.

What books influenced you most when you were growing up? 

I loved HAROLD AND THE PURPLE CRAYON, CURIOUS GEORGE, CLIFFORD, THE BIG RED DOG, BERENSTEIN BEARS, and THE VERY HUNGRY CATERPILLAR. I read them over and over. 

Did you write stories when you were growing up? 

At school I wrote stories as assignments.  I wrote more when I began teaching. 

When you were a child did you ever have a moment when you decided that you were going to be a writer when you grew up? 

I decided that it would be a dream come true to see my name on a book cover.  I remember thinking it would be a nice sight to see, but at the time had no idea what I would write a book about.  

What audience did you have in mind for your career as a writer - adults or children? 

Children.  Children's books are so much more fun to me, with pictures to look at and enjoy. 

When you went to college, were you already pursuing a writing career? 

No,  I was studying art and art education.  

When did you start writing and what inspired you to start? 

I started writing as an adult and I was inspired by other children’s books.

What was your first job when you graduated from college? 

I began teaching first grade at an elementary school in Los Angeles.  

How soon after that was your first book published? 

It was 15 years later in 2008. 

Was your first book accepted immediately or did you experience a number of rejections? 

Yes.  I experienced a  bunch of setbacks.  I was almost finished with the book when my computer crashed and  I lost the whole book.  I had to start writing all over again. 

What are the topics are some of your books?

They are art based. My current series is based on the 7 Elements of Art, the "ingredients" an artist arranges in a work of art.

Do you focus on fiction or nonfiction? Which do you prefer? Do you find one easier than the 
other? 

I currently focus on non-fiction.  I prefer fiction and plan on writing some fiction soon.  I find non-fiction to be easier. 

Do you enjoy researching or do you prefer working totally from your imagination? 

Both are enjoyable depending on what I am writing on. 

Do you work on more than one book at a time? 

Yes, I always have more than one idea going and I work best in the evenings. The only book that has been published is my new book, LINE. 

What are you working on now?  When do you expect to start submitting it to publishers? 

I'm working on the next six books to finish the series of the seven elements of art. And it is one book per element. Hopefully I will be able to submit my books to publishers by this fall.

When is your next book going to be in book stores? 

Hopefully by next year. 

Do you like to include humor in your stories, or adventure, or mystery? 

My next series of books will include adventure. 

When you do school visits, what question do children ask you most? 

They ask me if i made all of the artwork featured in the book.  Wish I could answer yes, but the reality is I really enjoyed collecting photos of artwork by other artists. I do point out that two of the artworks featured in the book are mine.

To learn how to see like an artist and use this to appreciate what they see in the world around them. 

Has anyone ever written you a fan letter that you'd like to share? 

Yes, kids have told me I am the best art teacher in the world! I love that! It makes my day and all of the hard work that I put into sharing my love of art with my students completely worth it. It is wonderful to be appreciated. :-)

Is there anything else about yourself you would like to share?

I am also an artist, and an art teacher.  And I make really good pumpkin pie, very yummy!