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Written by JJ Barnes
I am delighted to share my interview with children’s book writer Kieshia Chun about her latest book, Peter The Picky Polar Bear. She talks about her experiences with creating the story, her plans for the future, and shares advice for aspiring writers.
I’m a 37-year old mum of four boys, from Weston-super-Mare. We live with our Romanian rescue dog and four cats.
I’m also a Whitney Houston tribute!
I’ve been amateur writing since childhood, but I write my first book as an adult back in 2015.
I took the step at the same time that I decided I wanted to write, it was very immediate. I had an idea in my head one day, and I ran with it.
It took me 5-years from my iPhone notes to published book. I think my negative self put me off of doing anything about it sooner. That, and life changes.
It will have taken about 8-months this time around. I’m in a role!
I was at my partner’s house, and he said, “I’ve got a character for a book!” He said the word, and it set something off in my brain! I wrote the book in about half an hour.
I wouldn’t say I had issues with writing it, it was pretty organic, but I had some trademark hiccups with the original word that I wanted to use. Since changing it, everything seems to be going well.
The main and only character – My imagination! Sometimes, my ideas just come from nowhere.
I’m quite the panster with my writing, I often fly by the seat of my pants! Although I’m working on a romance novel (which I find so much harder) and although I start writing freely, I find that as the story progresses and I get to know my characters, I need more structure and plan going forward.
Yes, I hired an editor. There wasn’t much to change though, which I’m proud of.
Just write. Don’t think about the how’s and where’s of how to publish a book. Get it out and onto paper first, and then let it breathe for a week or so before you revisit it and make any changes. It’s surprising how differently you read it the second time around.
I have a few! I decided to make ‘Peter the Picky Polar Bear’ a series of books to address children’s worries and fears, so I’ll be releasing one book a year for this. The next is expected at the end of the year, and it’s about learning to swim. My next book after that is a rhyming book about a teasing snake, called ‘Sydney the Silly Snake,’ which just won an illustration grant with Authorpreneur Central, which I’m very proud of. It’s due out next summer 2022.
Absolutely! I want to show my children that they can do anything they put their minds to. I didn’t have the opportunity to go to college or university, and I was lost for a long time throughout my adulthood up until about 2016. To have a debut book win a Wishing Shelf Red Ribbon Award is amazing, and I’m very proud of it. I adore seeing children’s faces when they read my book, and I love hearing from parents when they tell me that their little one has eaten a new food, thanks to my book. It’s the best feeling. I hope all my books have the ability to bring happiness into people’s homes.
Peter the Picky Polar Bear –released Dec 2020
Have You Ever Seen a Dogahogahippodile? – due summer 2021
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