About Kerry Orchard:
I was born and raised in Calgary, Alberta, Canada.
It has long been my dream to start a small press focusing simultaneously on books for children struggling with behavioural/complex needs issues and adult and YA fantasy.
I have been writing for as long as I can remember and working with children dealing with behavioural issues for over a decade. It seemed appropriate to combine my two passions, children and writing so I began the Adventures in Behaviour Series and the Solving Behaviour website.
I have a deep love of children, anything fantasy and am an avid reader.
What inspires you to write?
Life. Everything about life, our struggles, what brings us joy and a desire to help others through my words or bring a moment of peace.
Tell us about your writing process.
Whenever I get an idea regardless of how random it may be, I write it down. I keep all those ideas and add to them over time until an idea emerges.
Other times an idea just comes to me and I sit down and begin writing, usually triggered by an event or person.
When I am writing adult fiction I outline the entire story. I write the characters first, the world, and of course the story line and direction itself. Typically I write a paragraph for each chapter on the direction I wish to follow.
For children's books I often just get an idea and sit down and write the entire story in one sitting before many months of editing.
Often I write on paper before the computer.
For Fiction Writers: Do you listen (or talk to) to your characters?
I try to feel them. How they may be feeling in a situation – how would I react. What direction are they taking me on for the course of their journey.
What advice would you give other writers?
Write down all of your ideas. Write in the way that suits you best. Write about what you know and feel. Read, read, read!
How did you decide how to publish your books?
I had books published years ago with a publisher and I decided that rather than go through the process again I would just do it myself. I started the company so that I could put my books out there for teachers and parents, to offer support in a fun way.
Next will come the Fantasy re-releases and new titles as well as new children's titles. My goal is to take on other authors writing in those genres.
What do you think about the future of book publishing?
I don't know. I think that people will aways read and many will always want to have a paper book. Paper books are best for young children.
I think it is about embracing technology and changing the way we think about publishing. I think rather than a couple of major companies there will be many, many smaller ones offering quality reading material and this will be a good thing, it opens up readers to a whole list of books and authors that mainstream publishers may reject. Rejection is not often about the quality of a book or the writing but about what will fit with the line of the publisher and of course if the editor reading it, in that moment, likes it.
We all have different tastes. I think having more books out there is better.
What genres do you write?: Fantasy and Children's
What formats are your books in?: Print
Website(s)
Kerry Orchard Home Page Link
Link To Kerry Orchard Page On Amazon
Link to Author Page on Authors Den
Your Social Media Links
Goodreads
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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.
