Children's Writers Chat Log 11-20-01

Subject: Childrens Writers- Bailey School

Author: Writerbabe

Uploaded By: JOANWRITE

Date: 12/3/2001

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Children's Writers Chat Log 11-20-01

Tonight please welcome Author, DEBBIE DADEY. (Bailey School Kids)

Tuesdays

9 p.m. ET (6 p.m. PT), Writers Workshop

Children's Writers chat - writers and illustrators of children's books meet for specific topics and special guest speakers, moderated by HOST WRTR WBABE & HOST WRTR CGaley, with HOST WRTR sUe & HOST WRTR Neely (Greeters).

****disinfected using Virex 6.0****

<HTML>Children's Writers Chat Log 11-20-01

Tonight please welcome Author, DEBBIE DADEY. (Bailey School Kids)

WriterBabe: We're going into protocol now.

WriterBabe: When it's time for audience participation, type ? for a

question,

WriterBabe: ! for a comment, and wait your turn to be called on.

WriterBabe: Type GA for Go Ahead (guests, too) when you've finished

speaking.

WriterBabe: Tonight I'm pleased to welcome a most prolific author with a

whole bunch of successful series--Debbie Dadey.

WriterBabe: Hi, Debbie.

Dsdadey: HI

WriterBabe: Oh, and my co-host Chuck Galey can butt in at will.

WriterBabe: Hi, Chuck!

CGaley: (Waving!)

WriterBabe: Debbie, for those who aren't familiar with them, could you

please tell us the premises of your four major series?

CGaley: ga

WriterBabe: GA

WriterBabe: Debbie?

Dsdadey: All of my series are based on friendship. The Adventures of the

Bailey School Kids is based on usual adults mixing it up with mystery loving

kids. The Monsters Next Door is a spin off where a family of real monsters

come to live

Dsdadey: I should have said unusual adults! GA

WriterBabe: How did you come up with these ideas? GA

Dsdadey: I have three kids so they certainly help with the ideas. GA

WriterBabe: How did you interest Scholastic and Hyperion in the series? GA

Dsdadey: Scholastic was cold turkey and in the slush pile. GA

Dsdadey: With Hyperion I was lucky enough to know the editor. GA

WriterBabe: Slush pile! Holy cow!

WriterBabe: You must have great personal power! :-)

Dsdadey: We were very very lucky. Ga

Craftylu: (Tell the whole story, Debbie.)

WriterBabe: There's more to the story? GA

WriterBabe: Debbie?

Dsdadey: We send in the story Vampires Don't Wear Polka Dots and only had to

change a bit of the last chapter. It sold 250,000 copies the first month.

WE were very happy. GA

WriterBabe: Incredible!

WriterBabe: My next question was going to be what's been the response from

kids, but I can see it's been a great response!

WriterBabe: What are the ingredients of a successful series? GA

Dsdadey: The next book (Werewolves Don't go To Summer Camp) was rejected

three times before we sold it.

Dsdadey: I think a successful series has to be kid friendly.

Dsdadey: And have great characters that kids can identify with. GA

WriterBabe: Rejected by Scholastic three times? I don't understand. They

had a hit with the first book. Why did they reject it? GA

Dsdadey: We were unknowns and a flash in the pan. Could we do it again?

Probably not. GA

WriterBabe: Whew!

WriterBabe: Joan Holub wants to know what you mean by kid friendly? GA

Dsdadey: I think series have to have situations that kids can identify with

and the readability has to be on target.

Dsdadey: Unfortunately, I got a rejection today! GA

WriterBabe: Oh, dear. It happens to everyone, those rejections.

WriterBabe: Debbie, you write these series with Marcia Thornton Jones.

Dsdadey: They still hurt! Ga

WriterBabe: How does that work, in terms of coming up with plots and

characters?

WriterBabe: In terms of the actual writing? GA

WriterBabe: (Yep, they never stop hurting)

Dsdadey: Yes, I have written most of my series with Marcia. We plan

together over the phone and work from an outline. Ga

WriterBabe: Do you come up with everything together? GA

Dsdadey: Sometimes. Sometimes one of us will take the ball and run. GA

WriterBabe: Last questions from me, then we'll open this to the audience.

WriterBabe: How are the books marketed? How much say do you have in the

marketing? GA

Dsdadey: Through book clubs, book fairs, bookstores, and in Book of the

Month Club. Ga

JOANWRITE: ?

WriterBabe: Thanks, Debbie.

WriterBabe: Now, we're open for questions and comments.

WriterBabe: Joan, you're first.

JOANWRITE: Were most of the 1st books 250K in book club. Does Scholastic

ever suggest plots?

JOANWRITE: ga

Dsdadey: No Scholastic never suggested plots. They have in recent times

suggested creatures. Ga

JanssD: ?

LAO4832: ?

JOANWRITE: Thanks. And were most of the 1st books sales in club?

JOANWRITE: ga

Dsdadey: Yes, we did start out in clubs. WE have a new series with

Scholastic coming out next year which will also start in the clubs. Ga

JOANWRITE: Thanks

WriterBabe: Derek, you're next.

JanssD: What about the "Monsters" spinoff?--Was it Scholastic's idea to

"move it out" of the school?

JanssD: (<--rabid Bailey fan)

JanssD: Seemed kind of a step down to have characters who WERE who we

thought they were... ; )

JanssD: ga

Dsdadey: Actually, our editor did get the idea from our book The Batty

Vacation where Mrs. Jeepers' mother says something about coming to live in

Bailey City. Ga

Dsdadey: Make that Mrs. Jeepers Batty Vacation. Ga

JOANWRITE: ?

WriterBabe: Lao, your turn.

LAO4832: Hi, from your experience, how long til you heard from the slush

pile? Thanks, ga

Dsdadey: Usually it's 4-5 months, with Vampires Don't Wear Polka Dots it was

three weeks. Ga

Craftylu: ?

Dsdadey: At the time Scholastic wasn't accepting. Ga

WriterBabe: Three weeks! That's amazing!

WriterBabe: Joan, go ahead.

JOANWRITE: How does a writer know when a series is over? Did Schol. expect

along run for Bailey? ga

JOANWRITE: Initially I mean. ga

Dsdadey: I'm sure Scholastic didn't expect BSK to go for 12 years. Who

knew? Every time we think it's over they ask us to write more. We enjoy it

so we do it.

Dsdadey: It wasn't even a series until the sixth book-at that point they

said yes it is a series. GA

JOANWRITE: How many Bailey bks are there? ga

Dsdadey: I think about 52 (44 numbered, 6 super specials, joke book,

Thanksgiving special) and more on the way.)Ga

WriterBabe: Linda, you're next.

Craftylu: Did you query or send whole manuscript with first book? Since you

weren't familiar with submitting, I'd guess you sent whole ms.

JOANWRITE: Amazing.

Craftylu: ga

Dsdadey: I did send the whole book and almost always do unless I'm asked to

write a series. GA

WriterBabe: The queue's empty folks.

WriterBabe: Empty, folks. Comma.

Dsdadey: I think it takes a whole book to really get to know a character.

RoxyanneY: ?

WriterBabe: Roxy, fire away.

RoxyanneY: I'm amazed at how much you produce. What's your work day like?

Craftylu: !

RoxyanneY: What do you do in your off time, or do you have any? GA

JanssD: ?

Dsdadey: I have three kids so it's catch as catch can, but I do try to get

in several hours every day.

RoxyanneY: I am amazed and impressed, I have to say. Thank you.

Dsdadey: I like to play the piano and work on my new house (decorative

painting is my excuse not to write.)

Dsdadey: Don't be impressed until you see this mess I jokingly call my

office. Ga

WriterBabe: Debbie, we're all impressed. Writing, playing piano, painting,

raising three kids and several dogs is a stunning feat.

WriterBabe: Linda, your comment.

Craftylu: Tell them about the new series and the time given you for the

first book.

Dsdadey: Can I give you my husband's number? Please tell him what you said

about being impressed.

WriterBabe: LOLOL

WriterBabe: Linda, why am I getting the sense that you know Debbie

personally? LOL

Dsdadey: I hust sold four more BSK books and the deadline for the first is

Dec. 15 (the same as a Barkley Book)

JOANWRITE: [there go your holidays]

Dsdadey: Luckily it looks like the first book in the new series won't be due

until Feb. Ga

Craftylu: (We were lucky. She joined our critique group.)

WriterBabe: Debbie, how do you manage to write so quickly? GA

Dsdadey: It really helps that we work from an ouline. We have it planned so

that we know where to go. Of course, we try to be flexible. GA

Dsdadey: Marcia thinks I am ADD. GA

Craftylu: LOL

WriterBabe: Derek, next question.

WriterBabe: Derek?

WriterBabe: Folks, other questions?

Dsdadey: Recently we have started showing our editors our outline to make

things go faster in the writing stage. GA

WriterBabe: Debbie, you've also done single titles.

WriterBabe: Have you thought about turning tohose into series--for example,

your two bios of Western legends,

Dsdadey: Yes, I always try to write something on the side.

WriterBabe: Will Rogers and Annie Oakley? GA

JanssD: (Oops, was elsewhere)

Dsdadey: I did enjoy writing those picture books, but recently I've been

writing longer works

Dsdadey: I just sold Whistler's Hollow to Bloomsbury USa for Publ. in May.

I'm very excited abou that.

Dsdadey: When Cherokee Sister was published it was truly a dream come true.

I worked on that book for eight years! gA

WriterBabe: Have you thought about turning the legends into a series? GA

WriterBabe: Eight years! What a difference from one month!

Neely f: %^%^%^%^%^% 15 MINUTE WARNING %^%^%^%^%^

Dsdadey: It's pretty much up to the publisher. Ga

PBRwriter: ?

Dsdadey: We've talked about doing Teddy Roosevelt, but I don't know if it

will happen.

Dsdadey: GA

WriterBabe: Derek, are you ready with your question now? GA

RoxyanneY: ?

WriterBabe: Guess not.

WriterBabe: Pam, go ahead.

PBRwriter: How do you resiolve differences with Marcia on conflicts in the

collaboration stages?

Dsdadey: I beat her up.

PBRwriter: Hope that's not too nosey--!

CGaley: LOL

PBRwriter: Hah!

Dsdadey: No, seriously we were just such beginners that we learn to give and

take.

PBRwriter: And after you clean up the blood.... then what? ;>

Dsdadey: WE know there is more than one way to write a story. (Usually our

editor has different suggestions to bring to the table.)

Dsdadey: After we clean up the blood we often combine ideas. But really,

we've never had an argument per say. Ga

PBRwriter: Do you evertake different books in the series and work solo?

WriterBabe: Roxy, you're next.

WriterBabe: Whoops.

PBRwriter: (Sorry)

WriterBabe: Pam, gotta say, "Follow-up."

PBRwriter: Apologies!

Dsdadey: No, we always work together. Although with tight deadlines we do

often flip-flop stories. Ga

PBRwriter: THANKS, and GA.

RoxyanneY: I'm just sitting here shaking my head and saying, "Wow, that's

incredible. Man, that's really incredible. Wow...." I'm in awe. What are your

long-term writing goals? Is there a story you've had in the back of your head

for years

RoxyanneY: that you really want to tell? GA

Dsdadey: Yes, I have several in a door I just want to have time to write.

ga

Dsdadey: OOps I mean a drawer. GA

CGaley: LOL

Neely f: >?>?>?>?>?>?> 10 MINUTE WARNING ?<?<?<?<?<?<?

WriterBabe: Debbie, what tips do you have for us about marketing series

these days?

WriterBabe: Is a series a tough sell? GA

Dsdadey: I would say series are a tough sell. First you have to have a

great premise. That's hard.

Dsdadey: I think if you don't have a working relationship with an editor

it's even harder.

Dsdadey: That's why we've always met our deadlines even if it just about

killed us.

Dsdadey: I think strong characters are the most important thing in a series.

GA

WriterBabe: Queue's empty, folks.

WriterBabe: How did your work as a teacher and librarian help you write your

series? GA

Dsdadey: I think it did. After all, being around kids all day you are bound

to pick up ideas.

Dsdadey: I guess I'm not that great at marketing. I didn't even think of

inviting all my e-mail buddies to this chat.

Dsdadey: This is the first one I've done and it's very interesting. Ga

Craftylu: (I invited some!)

WriterBabe: You don't need to be great at marketing!

WriterBabe: You're already a hit!

Dsdadey: Thanks! I told my writing group the other day that I don't think

you need to be a great writer. You just need a great story. Ga

JLMBB: !

WriterBabe: Which other series (and writers) do you admire and why? GA

RoxyanneY: (I think you've got both those bases covered.)

Dsdadey: Of course, Beverly Cleary and Judy Bloom. Ga

JOANWRITE: ?

WriterBabe: JLM, go ahead.

Neely f: /\/\/\/\/\/ 5 MINUTE WARNING //\/\/\/\/\/

JLMBB: I would like a handout for the how to write a query letter ty

Dsdadey: I do have an adult book called Story Sparkers that covers all that

sort of stuff. It's with Writer's Digest.

WriterBabe: JLM, this is a chat with guest Debbie Dadey on Writing Series.

WriterBabe: We have no handout on query letters.

WriterBabe: Ah, thanks, Debbie!

WriterBabe: Joan, your turn.

JOANWRITE: Do you do much public speaking to schools/teachers/lib/IRA etc?

ga

Dsdadey: Yes, I do. I try to limit it to Fridays.

Dsdadey: My website has more info: www.baileykids.com. GA

Dsdadey: Or you can e-mail me directly. Ga

WriterBabe: We're just about out of time. Debbie, do you have any final

words of wisdom for us? GA

Dsdadey: I think the best writers just stick it out. I sure thought about

quiting so many times when I first started. But I do love it and hope that I

have encouraged someone out there to keep trying. It's worth it! Ga

WriterBabe: Thank you very much, Debbie, for being an excellent guest!

WriterBabe: A round of applause, folks!

RoxyanneY: What an inspiration you are! Thank you for being here.

Pete n Gun: Thanks Debby!

Dsdadey: Thanks!

Ekbruno: Very interesting! Thanks.

LAO4832: Thanks!!

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Children's Writers Chat Log 11-20-01

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