Miranda Paul: Will Write for Cookies

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WILL WRITE FOR COOKIES

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INSIGHT – INFORMATION – INSPIRATION

FOR WRITERS

TODAY’S GUEST

Miranda_Paul_Headshot_2015

MIRANDA PAUL

 

I met today’s Will Write for Cookies author a couple of years ago when I first discovered this incredible kid lit community. Friends told me about a website called RateYourStory that was run by a writer named Miranda Paul, where you could get a manuscript looked at by professionals – for free! I went, I saw, I fell in love…with the site, the service and Miranda herself. A passionate advocate for literacy and leader in the movement to encourage diversity in books, Miranda is a doer, not just a dreamer. She’s published more than 50 short stories for magazines and digital markets, and is the author of One Plastic Bag: Isatou Ceesay and the Recycling Women of the Gambia, and Water is Water. Both were named Junior Library Guild selections. She is kind and generous and loving and a super smart mentor!

I’m so happy to have her here to share her thoughts with us.

Welcome, Miranda!

ME: Who were your favorite authors/illustrators when you were a child?

 

Miranda:

Shel Silverstein, Lois Lowry, and Roald Dahl. But seeing as how I never grew up, I think my current favorites also apply to this question. There are too many to name, but Jacqueline Woodson, Kevin Henkes, Kat Yeh, and Kadir Nelson come to mind. Or maybe those are just the ones that have “k” sounds in their names…

One_Plastic_Bag_Cover_Miranda_Paul 

ME: What do you know now that you wish you had known when you first started writing for children?

 

Miranda:

That when teachers said I could be anything, they meant it. 

 

ME: Where do you like to write/draw – inside, outside, a special area in your home, on the computer, in a notebook?

Miranda:

All of the above. I’ll write anywhere. I prefer the old-fashioned “pen and spiral notebook” for writing first drafts.

notebooks

ME: When during the day (or night) are you most productive? Do you set a schedule for working or do you write/draw when the muse speaks?

Miranda:

Morning—usually when it’s most quiet. Quiet is my biggest requirement for writing. Hahahaha to the schedule question. I rarely miss deadlines, but to suggest I have a regular or rigid schedule would be a big, fat lie.

 

ME: Why do you write for children?

 

Miranda:

See question #1 re: “how I never grew up.” Also, illustrations. To have words depicted so artfully and beautifully by the likes of Jason Chin and Elizabeth Zunon is all the payment one needs. (Don’t tell my publishers I said that.)

 water_is_water_final_cover

 

Okay, Miranda…we promise not to say a word! And thank you so much – we truly appreciate your participation – you are one busy lady.

Dear readers…if you’d like to connect with Miranda and find out more about her books and her amazing projects, please visit her online at:

Miranda Paul, Children’s Author

We Need Diverse Books VP of Outreach


One Plastic Bag: Isatou Ceesay and the Recycling Women of the Gambia – illus. Elizabeth Zunon, now available

Water is Water – illus. Jason Chin, now available

 

Coming in 2016 & 2017

Whose Hands are These? – illus. Luciana Navarro Powell – Lerner

Trainbots – illus. Shane McGowan – Little Bee Books

10 Little Ninjas – illus. Nate Wragg – Knopf/Penguin Random House

Are We Pears Yet? – illus. Carin Berger – Macmillan

 

And now for something yummy! Of course, we haven’t forgotten the ‘Cookies’ part of Will Write for Cookies.

Miranda:

Having to read Water is Water out loud so much lately has made me on the lookout for more apple-related treats, so I’ll share a recipe that looks mighty tasty: Apple Pie Oatmeal Cookies from Amy’s Healthy Baking (http://amyshealthybaking.com/blog/2015/01/03/apple-pie-oatmeal-cookies/).

apple-pie-oatmeal-cookies_1377Photo courtesy: http://amyshealthybaking.com/

Hurry on over to Amy’s site – she’s got oodles of awesome healthy and delicious recipes. Thanks so much, Miranda, for guiding us to her.

 

Have a beautiful weekend, dear friends! I’m still processing the WOW retreat experience. It’s something I will never forget.

22 thoughts on “Miranda Paul: Will Write for Cookies”

  2. Great to learn more about Miranda (and a cookie recipe). We love Water is Water! Look forward to Miranda’s upcoming books too. (Kiddo was a little upset about the Goats in One Plastic Bag, but we know it was part of the story!) Thanks Vivian and Miranda.

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    • I can’t get over that we had a chance to spend a week together at the WOW retreat, Stacy…that was so much fun! And thank you so much for always coming by and commenting…I know how busy you are. 🙂

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  7. Loved this interview, Vivian and Miranda. Both your books were highlighted at the WOW Retreat 2015, Miranda: WATER IS WATER during a learning session and ONE PLASTIC BAG during picture book trivia night!

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    • That’s right, Lori! I forgot to mention that…they are both awesome mentor texts…thank you for bringing that up. And YAY…I got to hug my wonderful critique partner, Lori, at the WOW retreat…that made a special conference much more special indeed. 😉 I’m only sorry I didn’t get to spend more time with you…there was so much going on…back to back awesomeness!

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  8. Vivian, this a great interview with Miranda Paul. I have the two books discussed and look forward to the new ones. Miranda’s RYS is my go-to place for comment on my mss. You ladies have a fantastic weekend and enjoy those yummy cookies. I need to go get the recipe!

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    • Charlotte…how did we not get to spend any time together at WOW? We will have to remedy that next time…but I’m so glad you stopped by to read Miranda’s interview. And thank you for mentioning Rate Your Story…many new people in this kid lit community aren’t familiar with it…and it is such a worthwhile service. 🙂
      Enjoy the cookies!!

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