Mel is Mel Boring, moderator of this chat with Judy Bradbury and web editor of the ICL web site.

Judy is Judy Bradbury, author of the Christopher Counts! Series published by McGraw-Hill (One Carton of Oops!; Double Bubble Trouble!; Doggone Lemonade Stand!; A High-Fiving Gift for Mom!). These full-color, humorous picture books for ages 4 to 7 feature basic math concepts taught through the story and through "minds on" activities embedded in the illustrations. Judy is a lifelong advocate of reading, and has a master’s degree in Reading Specialization and has taught for over 20 years from preschool through college. She is returning to our chat room after a systems failure cut her last interview short.

Pink shows the user names of the people who are asking questions of Judy.

Mel: WELCOME to you all! I'm especially happy to have Judy Bradbury BACK tonight, three months since "the lights went out" on her previous appearance. She will again talk talentedly about how "Reading and Writing Go Hand in Hand." The other day when Judy and I practiced, I saw again a glimpse of her great expertise in children's books. She is a very positive person, as well, and by now an "old" friend of mine. Judy, WELCOME BACK to the ICL Chat Room!

Judy: Hi, Everyone!

Mel: I'm going to put out a few questions to Judy that she answered last October to refresh memory, then we'll get to questions she hasn't answered yet--and YOUR questions! Judy, why is reading so important?

Judy: Well, I'm assuming you are asking why reading is important for one who wants to write. It's important for writers to read because they want to write things their intended audience will want to READ! When you read material written for the audience for which you'd like to write, you experience how other pros do it!

Mel: What if I don't have much time to write, much less read?

Judy: As I did in October, I'll quote pithy Stephen King: "If you don't have time to read, you don't have the time or the tools to write."

Mel: Judy, how did you first start writing? Were you a child prodigy writer?

Judy: I was not a prodigy writer, but I always loved writing and found it to be my most ...

creative and effective way to communicate, from writing letters to my dad to convince him of something, to writing letters to the editor.

Mel: When did you start writing to publish for children, then?

Judy: I began writing to publish when I was teaching and began to write for children after the birth of my daughter.

mbvoelker: A comment. I reread the transcript from October 17 and had to laugh when you talked about reading with a writer's eye. The last time I tried to read Clancy's PATRIOT GAMES I took half an hour studying the first chapter instead of just reading. I guess my writer's eye is working :-)

Judy: Good for you, mbvoelker!

buttercup: Do you keep a list of the books you read? Is it organized?

Judy: I keep the best of the books I read in a big closet organized by grade level. My house if full of books, and I do keep them fairly well-organized. But that's me!

minky: What if your reading leads you to write similar material?

Judy: If by writing similar material you mean by that the same theme, that's fine. There is a finite number of themes, really. But you must write from your perspective, in your style, with your insight, or it will not come across as authentic.

Mel: Now it's time for the question that was cut off October 17:

imhopeful: How did you decide what age group to write for?

Judy: I write for a variety of age groups, but I would say that you ought to write for the age group that you feel most attached to. I've heard authors say they are "frozen" at a particular age, and I think that's an apt way to describe it. If you feel comfortable with an age group or feel you are still, say, ten, then you can write for and reach 10-year-olds! When I am writing a story I find myself becoming that age and thinking, and more importantly, trying to feel as that age would. If I can't do that, I'm not connecting.

bellah: When did you find out what type of writing it was that you wanted to do?

Judy: I have always loved children's books, from early board books to YA novels, and really, I love writing of all kinds. It's just that I LOVE writing for children best of all.

minky: How can we be orginal?

Judy: YOU ARE original. Be you, write what only you can write, and I promise you it will be original.

minky: What are the successful skills that we should study when reading?

Judy: As you read children's materials look for those elements of the story that make you wince, cry, smile, laugh and feel as if you are THERE. Then ask yourself why that is, what did the author do to make that happen? How did the author do that?

thebeanman: What do you look for in a good children's book?

Judy: It depends on the age of the child for whom the book is intended. In a book for the littlest of listeners, I look for something that simply and refreshingly and lovingly connects that child on the lap with the adult reading it. I ask if the book will entertain each of them, and will it be a book I'd want to read over and over again? For older kids, I look for different things. For middle graders, for example, I look for material that will answer important questions, ease fears, make them laugh, and help them know that there are others just like them out there.

Buttercup: Do you take notes on the books you read? What kind?

Judy: I do not take notes on the books I read unless they are books for writers. Then I note quotes that I want to refer to over and over again.

minky: So being AUTHENTIC, is that an element that should be present in writting?

Judy: I don't think of authentic as an element, but rather an essential piece of you as the writer. I think of elements as characters, motivation, setting, conflict, plot, and so on.

silverdove: Do you prefer to write fiction stories or nonfiction?

Judy: I prefer to write fiction for children, but I also write nonfiction for adults.

minky: So what about genders, the taboos in publishers’ eyes?

Judy: Can you explain what you mean by that?

Mel: We'll come back to the question later when we hear clarification from minky.

wendyhaber: If you are interested in writing for the YA market, how many books should you read in this area before you begin writing?

Judy: Tons! Read the award winners, read the ones you see young adults picking up in bookstores. If you know teens, ask them what books they like and why and read those. You can never read too many! For starters, I'd try Laurie Halse Anderson, Virginia Euwwer Wolfe, Chris Crutcher, to name a few.

bellah: Do you think writing for children is easier or harder than writing for adults and why?

Judy: I think writing for children is a lot harder than most people think. I don't know if it's harder (fiction to fiction on both sides), but it is as hard, to be sure. I think this because, for example, with a picture book, you have to tell a story in a very limited number of words, leave room for an illustrator, and keep the interest of a young child using his or her sense of the world, and keeping in mind their understanding, concepts and vocabulary.

bellah:Thank you, Judy, for that answer.

moanerman32: How did you come up with the characters for your books?

Judy: I love to answer this question because in my series, my main character, Christopher is based on my real nephew, who is named Christopher. He and I are very close and when I wrote ONE CARTON OF OOPS! he was only 5. While the events in the series never happened to him, the essence of the character was derived from this wonderful boy!

minky: Here's the clarification for my earlier question. I mean how do you write about topics that are taboo with editors, such as abuse, death, divorce?

Judy: I think these issues can and ought to be addressed, but the depth will vary depending on the age of the child for whom the book is intended. Kids need to read about real life issues because it is through reading that they learn vicariously, and this is an important and often comforting way to learn.

green1: How do you pick a subject for books that has not been done ?

Judy: Pick, instead, a subject that you feel you just HAVE to write about. Don't try to write for the market or for the trends; write instead about something you are passionate about. If it's good, it won't matter how many other books on that topic there are out there.

minky: I LOVED that...don't write for trends....thanks!

Judy: You are welcome. Remember by the time we know the trends and write a book to cater to it, the trend will be over.

Mel: EXCELLENT answer, Judy, THANKS from ME too!

buttercup: What books for writers have you found most helpful?

Judy: I have a few favorites. One is FOREST FOR THE TREES: AN EDITOR'S ADVICE TO WRITERS by Betsy Lerner. Another favorite is ESCAPING INTO THE OPEN: THE ART OF WRITING by Elizabeth Berg, and BIRD BY BIRD by Anne LaMott. There is also THE COMPLETE IDIOT'S GUIDE TO PUBLISHING CHILDREN'S BOOKS by Harold Underdown.

wendyhaber: I'm reading ORGANIZING FROM THE INSIDE OUT by Julie Morgenstern right now and she has great tips for writers.

olivebear: Did you mean when you said not to write for the market or the trends, that nonfiction subjects such as problems in school are not of much interest to kids?

Judy: Not at all! Did I say that?!

Mel: No, I don't think you did, Judy.

thebeanman: What are some good books for Pre-Kindergarten?

Judy: This is a good question for me right now, as I have just completed a book on pre-k books for teachers and librarians (CHILDREN'S BOOK CORNER) and I had lots of fun reading hundreds of books for kids this age. Just a few of my absolute favorites are GRANDFATHER TWILIGHT by Elizabeth Berger, OWL MOON, by Jane Yolen, BIG PUMPKIN by Erika Silverman, BLUE HAT GREEN HAT by Sandra Boynton, THE GRUFFALO by Julia Donaldson and HE SAVES THE DAY! by Marsha Hayles.

Mel: GOOD suggestions--THANKS, Judy!

wendyhaber: How many hours a day do you read? Stephen King suggests 4 hours a day. If you divide the time up, how much time do you read for writing for children, pleasure reading, reading for research, and reading about writing? I'm so happy you are with us tonight. It's exciting to learn from you.

Judy: Thank you! I'm happy to be here. Now, as to your question, it's really hard for me to break up the time in that way because I am always reading (or writing--very boring life, you might say) but I like to always be reading something professional for writers and something for pleasure (adult ) before bed and kids books all the time. I usually spend at least 1/2 hour a day with a kid's book, sometimes more. If it's a YA book or a mid-grade reader, I sometimes have to wrench it out of my daughter's hands!

Mel: Here is a really good suggestion from mbvoelker in regard to how to find books kids really reading:

mbvoelker: I check out the library's return cart to make sure I read the books the kids are REALLY reading.

Judy: Good suggestion! Also, ask the bookstore salespeople what they recommend.

mrspigglewiggle: How long did you write and/or submit before you were published? (Just curious!)

Judy: I wrote and submitted for six years before my first children's book was accepted for publication.

amme: Would ancient times (Egypt, Greece) fit in today's market?

Judy: Certainly!

thebeanman: Do you think there is value in going to conferences?

Judy: Absolutely! I attend conferences as often as I can. I especially look for those sponsored by SCBWI. Some conferences are more hands-on and other conferences are more informational. Be sure you attend one that will meet your needs.

Mel: Here's a question that may be worth repeating, Judy....

amme: What would you look for in a good YA book?

Judy: a YA book must engage the teen of today.... that means it must be fast-paced, current (that doesn't mean trendy)... and address issues that are important to today's teens.

walkinggrl: Which middle grade authors do you suggest?

Judy: The takeaway point. must be organic to the story. No preaching allowed! Mid-grade novels are so fun. these kids adore humor and are still kids. they want to feel grown-up and be treated a bit like older siblings,. but they still want to be "cuddled", reassured, and have FUN! Authors to read include... Christopher Paul Curtis, Joan Bauer, Lois Lowry, Louis Sachar, and Katherine Paterson.

bellah: Do you think it is important for a writer to be a FAST reader ?

Judy: I'm not, so I hope it is not a requirement!

minky: How would you get publishers willing to risk a hard issue, like divorce, etc., mentioned earlier?

Judy: Publishers are very willing to publish books on real, tough issues. Many are courageous and very assertive when it comes to publishing "on the edge."

minky: Six years to get into print, wow! How did you keep going?

Judy: I am fortunate to have a healthy support system in my family, and I don't give up easily--very stubborn, you might say! And I kept working at it because it was what I really want to do with my life.

olivebear: Are there any related websites you can recommend about what books to read?

olivebear: Thank you so very much for the recommendated sites! :-)

Judy: You are welcome. There are others, I'm sure and one will lead to others.

cronkie: Did you mean when you mentioned "preach" that it should be "come to realize" without being preachy?

Judy: Absolutely, what I mean is that the character must grow, but the growth must seem real and natural as a result of the events in the story.

cronkie: How do you create a takeaway point without being preachy?

Judy: Don't set out to teach a lesson. Instead, tell a story, and let the "lesson" if you will... be a natural by-product of the story.

chantz: Do you ever get discourged?

Judy: Daily, some weeks. There are times I hate to go get the mail because I don't want to find a rejection letter! So I have a routine where I don't go get the mail until I've finished a session of really fruitful writing and then if there is a rejection letter, I am not as apt to take it as personally. Susan Campbell Bartoletti, a winner of numerous awards, once told me that we writers must remember that rejection letters are not personal. It could be that the editor just bought another story too similar to yours, or she doesn't go for sci fi and that's what you write etc.--you fill in the blanks.

mrspigglewiggle: Were you ever tempted to give up during the time you have written? Or was writing something you "had" to do?

Judy: Temptation is a terrible thing, but seriously, it is something I feel I have to do--at the risk of sounding lofty. But every day I sit down to write, I feel blessed to be able to do this for a "living" (using the word advisedly)!

wendyhaber: What is your average timeline for finishing a book from beginning to end?

Judy: This depends on the type of book. I wrote a chapter book that took me 9 to 12 months to complete my book I mentioned earlier--the one on pre-k books for teachers and librarians took me about 6 months to complete, but the last two months consisted of 14 hour days!

Judy: When I wrote the series on Christopher Counts! The first book took 6 years to get accepted, but the second book in the series took 6 months to write.

dixiegirl: Is there a market for Christian fiction stories?

Judy: Yes, I do feel there is a market for Christian fiction stories, and I think it is strong.

silverdove: Did you write for magazines while waiting to have your books published?

Judy: no, I did not write for magazines. I wanted to concentrate on writing books. And I felt I wanted to focus on that even if the road to publication might be a bit longer.

mrspigglewiggle: Do ever go on a writer's retreat, by yourself or with others?

Judy: I have been to writers' retreats and they are wonderful. I usually go with writer buddies.

amme: Has the success of the H. Potter books helped or hurt fantasy as a genre for kids?

Judy: Absolutely has helped, wouldn't you say? But it's probably going to be difficult for all those fantasy writers to wedge in the door!

writerx: Do publisher's expect pictures with your writing??

Judy: Most publishers prefer not to see illustrations from authors unless that author is also a professional illustrator. They have illustrators they will approach and their job includes finding just the right person to illustrate your manuscript.

writerx: Thank you, that's good to know because I can't draw!

spudsie: Are good publishers usually interested in unknown writers?

Judy: All publishers love the prospect of finding that unknown, talented fresh talent, and lucky for all of us! But I do think it is the writer's responsiblity to know what a publisher publishes and to submit judiciously, professionally, and after having studied the market so that the market isn't flooded with submissions that miss the mark. That hurts all of us because as publishers become flooded with misdirected manuscripts and face reduced staffs, we see many closing the transom to unsolicited submissions.

Mel: Judy, here's a well deserved accolade for you:

cronkie: Great--thanks! I'm one of Judy's current students!

Judy: Now I'm wondering just who this might be!

Mel: Here's a clue to the identity of "cronkie," Judy (-:}...

cronkie: It's your student who's set aside Clementine to visit you!

bellah: What inspires you?

Judy: Well! If you mean as to my writing. I love to look around me and when something makes me laugh, I think about that. I love to observe kids when they don't know they are being observed and think about why they said what they said, notice how they talk, what they do when they are talking, and listen for what they are really saying--besides LIKE!! Just kidding.

wendyhaber: You write for children and adults. Do you use a color-coded system to organize all your current projects or do you have another system that keeps you organized?

Judy: I am in the process of getting a new office "environment" and I may use your suggestion! I keep track of the submissions I make and the pieces that are sold, but I don't color-code. They are all filed in the computer under the title of the piece.

minky: On a monthly basis, how often do you submitt?

Judy: I submit weekly. Some weeks I submit 3 or 4 things; other weeks I am sending follow-up letters or queries--it depends on the week. But I check weekly and try to regularly submit--when pieces are ready to go out the door, of course, and never before!

passion: Should I write a series of books or each title into a book?

Judy: It is probably not a good idea to submit a series unless you have had experience writing series or if you see a call for a series and feel you have enough material/ideas to sustain a series. But in my case, for both of my series, I submitted a proposal for one book and the editor asked me to turn it into a series.

buttercup: What percentage of your time is spent reading? writing? marketing?

Judy: All of it! I write daily for about 3 to 9 hours--it varies, depending on the project. I read every day at least 1 hour. I market a few hours weekly.

Mel: Here's another good question from cronkie, Judy. She asks: "I read somewhere that fiction is a bit larger than life and so your fiction can have a bit more oomph than everyday events. Do you agree?"

Judy: Sometimes in my life, I feel it's too strange--if I wrote it, no one would believe it! But yes, your writing must have more oomph than "everyday." I think especially of dialogue. You wouldn't want to write the way we speak, really, with all the "dead words" we insert and the "uhs" and "ums."

chantz: When you get a rejection letter, do you rewrite the piece that was rejected?

Judy: Sometimes I do, but not always. If I feel it is the best it can be and I love it the way it is, I send it right back out the door. On the other hand, if I read it and see something there that I can make better, or if an editor has suggested something, I take a look at that. I guess I always tweak, but wholesale, major changes, rarely.

mbvoelker: How do you avoid imprinting what you are reading onto your own work? I don't read fantasy when I'm writing fantasy because I will then write bad Tolkien or bad Eddings instead of good M. B. Voelker.

Judy: I guess I read with "a writer's eye," looking more at the elements and what triggers a reaction in me than I do the actual plot events. And when I write, I may internalize those methods, but I write about what is meaningful to me. And since we are all individuals with unique sets of circumstances and experiences, if you can tap into that and feel certain about your desire to write from "there," then it will be your own.

minky: Submitting is a long process. Are there time-savers?

Judy: It is most certainly a long process, and that is a frustrating given in this business. I don't have any hard and fast and easy answers, sorry to say, but it helps if you are as market savvy as you can be and you try to pinpoint the right publisher for your piece. It helps if you can pinpoint the right editor, too, but that's even harder. Agents are becoming more and more common, but they may be as hard to snag or harder than finding an editor!

mrspigglewiggle: When you say it takes 9 to 12 months or so for you to write a book, is that continual (day-job type) writing or did you have periods where you didn't work on the piece?

Judy: I usually work on a fiction piece while I am working on articles--I go back and forth to stay fresh. but yes, every day, more or less, and it is my day job. Once complete, however, I always let a piece sit for a while before I submit it--give it a fresh look after not having seen it for a bit--say two weeks or so.

thebeanman: What is your motivation when you need it?

Judy: My motivation when I need it is other writers' experiences, my dog, and thinking about what it is I hope to accomplish--and sometimes my writers' group

padjak6: How did you muster enough courage to send a novel to a publisher the first time. Did you just "pick" a publishing company?

Judy: It does take courage, but never a shot in the dark. Your work deserves more than that. I am careful and actually interested in staying current with the market. And I would not want to just "pick" a publishing company. So I read about what they want, I look at what they publish, and then I usually make a short list of which publishers I would most like to publish that piece. I also keep my ear to the ground on what publishers are doing-- there are some I really wouldn't want to publish with!

Mel: From another fan, Judy!

silverdove: I'm another student of Judy's!

topcat: Should you get an agent to stop some rejection letters?

Judy: That may not be the answer to stopping rejection letters, but they will intercede with them! Just be careful when choosing an agent. I've heard it likened to a marriage. You are married to an agent for the life of your book.

Mel: Great saying!

thebeanman: Do you think children's book market is growing or shrinking?

Judy: This past summer at the SCBWI national conference, the president of Putnam said children's books are in a renaissance, and I'm happy to hear that, aren't you?!

Mel: YES!

minky: Where are you favorite places to watch children?

Judy: Preschools, kids' sporting events, malls, at church.

dixiegirl: Between children and adult writing, which inspires you most?

Judy: Writing for children, hands down!

buttercup: How many manuscripts to you generally have out there?

Judy: Most of my writing for adults is about writing for children or about children I have about 4 to 6 circulating at any one time.

padjak6: How does one find out about these "retreats" of SCBWI and such?

Mel: I'm SORRY, Judy, because it looks like we're out of time. But nothing shut us down tonight--did you notice? You know, I've been with you twice now here in the chat room, and I STILL want to hear more of what you have to tell us--so I hope you'll come back sometime. I can tell you are really appreciated here. You have TONS of wisdom, not only about what to read for kids, but just about children in general. THANK YOU so much for coming back tonight, Judy!

Judy: Good night, all!

Mel: Please come back two weeks from tonight on February 6, when Larry Pringle will be here in our chat room. Larry is the author of well over 100 children's books. He has written on MORE kinds of wild animals than I ever even knew there were. A couple of years ago Larry went on a trip up into the mountains of Mexico where lies the ONLY place that monarch butterflies migrate to in the wintertime. It is so secret, so I’m told, that the people who go have to wear blindfolds for the final few miles. Come and hear the lively stories behind Larry Pringle's lively animal books--and his picture books as well! See you in two weeks--and THANKS for coming tonight!