Claudia White describes herself as a life-long day-dreamer. Sometimes it got her in trouble but most of the time it served her well.  She grew up in remote northern California with ancient redwoods to the east and the raging surf of the Pacific Ocean to the west.  Family holidays meant spending hours in the car to get to the next bigger town or city.  With nothing to do but stare out at the passing landscape, she would use the scenery as the backdrop for stories.  She says it was like watching a movie only better because she could determine where the adventures would go and who would be the hero.

At school she had an interest in myths and fables, inventing her own whenever given the chance.  That earned her high praise from her teachers and she spent years as a tutor in creative writing. 

Claudia went on to careers in business where her writing was focused on more serious corporate matters and it wasn’t until about ten years ago that she decided to revisit her favourite fantasies and began writing Aesop’s Secret (published 2013).  Key to Kashdune (published 2014) quickly followed.  Both are published by MP Publishing.

Interviews:  http://awomanswisdom.wordpress.com/2014/04/29/the-teatime-author-interview-with-claudia-white/

http://www.writingandwellness.com/?s=claudia+white

http://hauntedorchid.blogspot.ca/2013/08/all-about-middle-grade-interview.html

 

EXTRA CREDIT INTERVIEW WITH CLAUDIA WHITE:

Joining LitPick today is Claudia White. Claudia is the author of Aesop’s Secret, Key to Kashdune and Servalius Window.

Do you have a solid outline before writing, or do you usually get ideas as you go along?

My stories come together best when I map them out. In school we learned how to develop stories using linear outlines, which I used for Aesop’s Secret. After that, I found that using a horizontal story map works better for me. I like to view each story as a journey: the stops along the way are the chapters, and the final destination is the conclusion. 

Has someone you know ever appeared as a character in a book (consciously or subconsciously)?

Subconsciously, yes. I didn’t realize for a long time that the two main protagonists in my books, Melinda and Felix Hutton, while not identical to, have similarities to me and other members of my family. For my latest project, Amos Argyle also resembles someone I know (but I can’t tell you who!).

What do you do when you get writer’s block?

There are times when I simply cannot write, times when the story in my head can’t make it onto paper.  I never seem to be at a loss for story ideas, but I do get writer’s block when I’m distracted by life’s other elements. The only way I can overcome it is to step away from my computer and not even try to write. Pushing too hard only frustrates me and does little to unlock the creative process. Relaxation is key, so I let the story play in my mind, like a movie. When I’m driving, I let that movie entertain me; when I walk the dog and even when I go to sleep I focus my daydreams. Eventually my whole concentration is honed in and I am eager to get back to the keyboard and write it all down. 

If you could live in a book’s world, which would you choose?

I would love to change into an animal from time to time, so I would definitely live in my books. Being an Athenite would be a dream come true! But if my invented worlds are off the table, then I would enjoy the fantastic world created by P. G. Woodhouse in his Wooster and Jeeves stories. Set in England in the 1920s, these stories tell of the fanciful life of the aristocracy during that period. There are no great mysteries or dangerous dramas, just an imagined life of fun and frolic. 

What is your favorite book to movie adaptation?

I thoroughly enjoyed The Lord of the Rings. The Elven outpost of Rivendell (also known as Imladris) was perfect—maybe that’s where I would want to live (as long as elf magic keeps the Orcs out!).

If you could have lunch with one other author (dead or alive!), who would it be?

It’s difficult to choose only one. P. G. Woodhouse would be fascinating, and if the wit in his writing is any indication, he’d probably be good for a laugh.  Alexander McCall Smith (author of The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency series) would be hysterical!  Joanne Harris would be fabulous to spend time with; I love the hint of fantasy in her books (she’s most famous for Chocolat) and she enjoys cooking, as do I. If it’s OK, can we have a table for four?

Wild Card Question: As a child, you spent long family car trips unleashing your imagination and creating stories. Did you write down any of those stories or still remember them today?

I didn’t write them down, but I do remember them. I have always been crazy about animals, so they were featured in every story. On my family’s travels, horses were usually key characters. I envied the power and movement of these wonderful creatures, so I would create stories that would allow them the freedom to run across plains without fences to block their path. Of course, I was often the horse in these imaginings!     

Thank you for joining us for an Extra Credit interview, Claudia! Can we get a larger table and join you and your author guests at lunch?

 

SIX MINUTES WITH CLAUDIA WHITE:

Today LitPick is joined by Claudia White for Six Minutes with an author! Claudia was born a day dreamer, which has served her well as an author. Claudia is the author of a series of three books, Aesop’s Secret, Key to Kashdune, and Servalius Window, which will be released May 18th.

How did you get started writing?

I have been writing stories for as long as I can remember. On long car rides as a child I would invent stories by using the passing scenery as a backdrop. At school I loved creative writing, and in high school I was elevated to a teacher’s assistant and tutor. I dreamed of being an author. That said, I did not get serious about writing down my imagined worlds until I was an adult. I suppose part of my reluctance came from the wrong-headed belief that people must be born a certain way or have family connections to go into careers in creative arts. When I realized how ridiculous that belief was, I set my sights on writing for children and did what I needed to do in order to make it happen.

Who influenced you?

I don’t have one particular author who has influenced my writing…there are so many! If I name one then I think of another and then another, and then….

There is, however, one person who inspired me to stop dreaming about being an author and who got me busy writing. Several years ago, I was listening to a radio interview with the (now late) great British actor Sir Nigel Hawthorn. He was talking about the early struggles of his acting career—rejections, rejections, rejections and more rejections--and ended by saying that he kept going not because he wanted to but because he needed to. It took him years to achieve success but he never gave up. Once I realized that my desire to write was a ‘need’ rather than a ‘want’ the rest was simply hard work and discipline, accepting the disappointment of rejections, learning more about my craft,  and developing the perseverance that finally led to being published. 

Do you have a favorite book/subject/character/setting?

Paris is my favorite setting. I have been a regular visitor to that grand city for more than twenty years, and it feels like home whenever I’m there. The characters in my middle-grade fantasy series live there. 

Not surprising (because of the French connection) Chocolat by Joanne Harris is my favorite book.  My taste in books is varied from fantasy to historical fiction, but I must admit that I adore a little enchantment when I read…and when I write.

My favorite character in my books is Melinda Hutton. She’s a bit quirky, a bit flighty, and wildly enthusiastic. 

What advice do you have for someone who wants to be an author?

To borrow a slogan: Just do it! It is hard work and can be frustrating, but if writing is something that you truly need to do, then get going; there’s nothing stopping you but you. Successful writers are those who focus and are willing to learn. If you can muster the discipline it takes to see a project through, develop a thick skin to take criticism and the determination to learn from those critiques, then it’s simply a lot of hard work to get you where you want to be. 

Along the way, you will come across writers who make a splash with their first submission. Try not to envy them. Instead let their success spur you forward.   

I worked for years to become a published author. Story ideas have always been easy, but sitting down to record them was not. It took a long time to develop the discipline to get the words onto the page. Along the way, I learned a lot from other authors about how they worked and drove themselves. I also learned to ask for and accept criticism.  Another important thing I have come to accept is that not all people are going to be in your corner when you present them with your work. Even those closest to you can be terribly negative. You need to understand their motivation and then move on. After all, this is your dream, no one else’s.

Where is your favorite place to write?

One of the rooms in our house is designated as my office and it has become my favorite place to write. It’s loaded with books and papers stacked high on an antique drop-leaf table that serves as my desk--it is usually a total mess. 

What else would you like to tell us?

I am thrilled to take part in LitPick’s author interviews. I am also very happy to have my books available for your reviewers. Thank you LitPick for giving kids a voice about the books that they enjoy reading. 

Claudia, thank you very much for joining LitPick for six minutes! We are looking forward to the release of Servalius Window on May 18th!

Servalius Window: http://www.midpointtrade.com/book_detail.php?book_id=98376