About Barchelle (Chelly) Bolger Wathen:
Barchelle “Chelly” Bolger Wathen, a native San Diegan, now resides in Prescott, Arizona. She loves spending time with her husband, George, and their “fur kid” Shayla. She is a college graduate with a Master of Public Administration degree, and worked almost thirty years as a paralegal/senior paralegal with the San Diego City Attorney’s Office. From legal documents and grant proposals to college papers and her thesis, Chelly always enjoyed writing. Now it's time to tell Shayla's story, God's story.
Shayla & Friends initiated this book series, sharing the true story about her remarkable, adventurous dog Shayla who came to America from a Ukrainian orphanage, and the friends she made along the way. Shayla & Friends: Into the Light continues the story of Shayla’s journey from Ukraine to find her forever family. Shayla's Adventure is a fictional children's book series that inspires all with Shayla's lessons of love and friendship. In addition to writing Shayla's books, Chelly produces plays based on these stories.
Chelly works full-time as an Ombudsman Specialist for the State of Arizona/NACOG. Together with her craftsman husband George, they operate a small woodworking business, “Wathen Custom Woodcrafts.” She also enjoyed volunteering with local animal rescue groups, including DogTree Pines Senior Dog Sanctuary. But her favorite activity is enjoying God’s creation with family and friends: kayaking, ziplining, and hiking mountain trails, especially with Shayla.
Just a girl and her dog!
What inspires you to write?
The "Shayla" series books are based on the inspiration of our dog Shayla, and the Roman Korniyko family in Ukraine who raised Shayla at Father's House orphanage. Roman gave up his medical profession to start this orphanage, inspired by God. This is God's story of survival and love.
What authors do you read when you aren’t writing?
Inspired by Alyson Sheldrake's story about Kat the Dog
Tell us about your writing process.
1. Prayer
2. Create the overall picture & research anything I need to know to set the scene
3. General outline on my computer
4. Expand on character details (strengths, traits)
5. Write and rewrite – several times
6. Proofread, edit (including editor online & professional editor)
For Fiction Writers: Do you listen (or talk to) to your characters?
My books are based on my rescue dog Shayla, who is usually seated at my feet or by my side as I write. Also based upon the people who raised her (who we are still in touch with) in Ukraine and America; and other dogs I have actually known. And yes, I do try to envision what I believe my characters would say and think.
What advice would you give other writers?
Don't give up on your characters, even if others don't share your faith that they will ever see the light of day on paper.
How did you decide how to publish your books?
Mainly based on expenses and finances, and not wanting to give away any book rights, I decided to self-publish my books. My first editor would not give me the information to reach out directly to my illustrator in collaboration, thus my next books were self-published, after direct contact with my illustrator.
What do you think about the future of book publishing?
More self-publishing
What genres do you write?: children; young adult; fiction and non-fiction; adventure and inspirational
What formats are your books in?: Print
Website(s)
Barchelle (Chelly) Bolger Wathen Home Page Link
Your Social Media Links
Goodreads
Instagram
All information in this post is presented “as is” supplied by the author. We don’t edit to allow you the reader to hear the author in their own voice.
