Children's Author Karma Wilson Writes On
and cheap, your publisher can print the address in your books, kids and teachers love them. There's just no excuse not to do them. I have a basic website (www.bearsnoreson.com or www.karmawilson.com), and I'm in the process of redesigning the whole thing to stream line it and add more activities and such. It will be done in a month or so. I also encourage writers to work with the publishers. They have marketing teams. Get them a picture and a bio ASAP. Ask to be included in their "author visits" package they send out to teachers and schools that inquire. Get your website hooked up to theirs. All of that requires minimal effort. Just one school visit can pay for it all and give you a substantial profit!
13.SR: Can you share any details of your family life? What does your family think of your fame and success?
KW: Well, as I shared I neglected my family to be a writer in the beginning so we all have mixed feelings about it. The best thing I ever did was to turn to them in my writing. For one thing my husband is by far the best critic I've ever had for my writing. He comes up with so many ideas he should be "co author" of some of my books! I never thought he would be interested, but I was wrong. He's excellent at recognizing bad writing and he's also excellent at coming up with good twist endings, or funny characters, etc.... My kids also help me a lot now because I now observe them more than ever and that gives me ideas. But I no longer obsess on writing like I used to. The funny thing is that I'm actually writing MORE books now than I did when I obsessed. I'm not worried about so many of the peripheral details of the writing life that I actually have more time to think of new ideas and put them to paper.
14.SR: What advice or encouragement do you have for children's writers?
KW: Keep writing in perspective. Writing isn't the most important thing in the world no matter what anybody tells you. When you're on your death bed what do you want to look back on? Everything you wrote, or the time you spent with your family and friends? Put your effort where it matters. Writing is a great occupation, but it shouldn't occupy your whole mind and heart. Keep your goals practical and don't sell your
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