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Back to Featured Interviews >> MEET LYNN KELLEY
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| Lynn Kelley |
My childhood was magical. Having a grandfather who was a magician affected me, for sure, but the true magic came from everyday childhood activities, like roller skating, climbing trees, catching crawdads, reading, riding my bike, doing skits and puppet shows, and playing baseball, card games, board games, hopscotch, and tag. Pure delight in ordinary kid stuff left me with extraordinary memories.
When you went to college, were you already pursuing a writing career?
No. I attended a court reporting college and worked as a deposition reporter for 25 years while raising four children. Although court reporting provided me an education I couldn't have received elsewhere, it was a rigid job taking verbatim testimony, with no outlet for my creative side. Being creative with the legal transcripts was not an option! At some point, I considered becoming a writer, but I planned to wait until my children were grown.
When did you start writing and what inspired you to start?
My daughter, Amy, was falling behind in the third grade. I talked to her teacher, Betty Smith, about what I could do to help her catch up. Mrs. Smith told me to read aloud to her as much as possible. I enjoyed the stories as much as Amy did and also began reading to my other kids. Then I enlisted my husband's help. George, too, got a big kick out of some of the books. That's when I decided to become a children's writer. I enrolled in literature and creative writing courses at Crafton Hills College in Yucaipa. My teachers were excellent, and I loved the new direction my life had taken.
What are you working on now?
I'm working on SECRET OF HAUNTED BOG, the second book in the MONSTER MOON series. It's due out in the fall of 2010. Under the pseudonym BBH McChiller, I'm a co-author with Kathy Sant and Maria Toth. The first book is titled CURSE AT ZALA MANOR, published by Stargazer Publishing Company. We're also working on
a teacher's manual to go with each book.
How does that work out with three of you writing together?
We've had an amazing journey so far and have grown very close. These two brilliant women allow me to be silly, quirky, and free to express wacky ideas and completely be myself--and vice versa. We have a lot of laughs brainstorming and bouncing ideas off one another. The chemistry among us works in a unique way where our three minds merge into one voice. Of course, there are times when we disagree about certain things, so we take a vote. Majority rules. Our egos are put aside for the common good of our stories.
Do you like to include humor in your stories? Or adventure? Or mystery?
Humor is an important element that I strive to add to my stories. I grew up in a family of jokers, so laughter and exercising my funny bone is a part of life. I'm working on a YA novel where my main character's first love becomes controlling and abusive, but it's tempered with humor. Also, when we started working on MONSTER MOON, which is a spooky mystery series, I had to include some humor because I'm a big chicken when it comes to scary stories. So now we market it as fun, spooky mysteries.
Have you published anything else?
I authored a picture book, MERRY AS A CRICKET (WhipperSnapper Books). My story, "The Jobo Tree" won HIGHLIGHTS FOR CHILDREN's Author of the Month award. My first break in publication was writing articles for the HIGHLAND COMMUNITY NEWS. Then the paper let me start a column, "Precious Moments in
Parenting," which featured funny and heartwarming stories.
What do you most want the students to get out of your school visits?
When I visit schools, I want to get the kids pumped up about reading, writing, and being creative. My co-author, Maria Toth, came up with a pet brain for an episode on KLCS's HOMEWORK HOTLINE, so I thought Brain would be great to take to school visits. The paper mache brain is harnessed to one of those invisible dog leashes. Kids love Brain. I tell them that Brain sniffs out good story ideas and likes to help us brainstorm. It's a great ice breaker.
Has anyone ever written you a fan letter that you'd like to share?
I would love to share my first fan letter with you:
"Dear Mrs. Kelley,
I loved your book. It was incredible. I just couldn't put it down. When I first
started to read it, I got to chapter 3 and told myself that it was time for bed. That was no use because I kept telling myself that at the beginning of every chapter until I was already done with one third of the book. The next day I stayed up so late to read your book I actually fell asleep. How dare I fall asleep at the most exciting part of the book! CURSE AT ZALA MANOR was one of the best books I have ever read in my entire life. I hope you continue to create your amazing stories because I'll search for them.
Your #1 FAN,
CY
"P.S. And yes, I, CY am a girl. LOVE MONSTER MOON."
This fan letter means the world to me. What an inspiration! It's what makes writing for children so rewarding.