14 Feb Vivian Kirkfield and a “Don’t Miss” Giveaway!

It’s just a few hours before Valentine’s Day, and although I was planning to post this tomorrow (What better Valentine’s Day present than a post about Vivian Kirkfield?), Houston, TX is expecting an ice storm tomorrow (yikes!), and I’m pretty sure I will lose my wifi. So, everyone, pretend it is Valentine’s Day and enjoy. 

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I am thrilled to have my friend (well, everybody’s friend), Vivian Kirkfield here on “Writing Outside the Lines.” I remember messages between us going back and forth late at night when I realized that this woman is not only a great critique partner but a wonderful friend too. At that time, I had no idea how prolific she would be. But I had a feeling. 🙂 

Ellen, it’s lovely to be here on your blog! Being a guest on the blog of someone I love and getting the chance to talk about something I love is the perfect way to spend Valentine’s Day. We’ve been critique buddies for a long time – ever since Angie Karcher’s RhyPiBoMo (Rhyming Picture Book Month, now called Rhyme Revolution). And we’ve even met in person at a week-long writing retreat! I’m grateful for your friendship and all the support, encouragement, and feedback you’ve given me over the years.

Ah, right back at you! I always thank Dawn Young for putting us in that group. Now let’s get down to business! Your newest book, FROM HERE TO THERE: INVENTIONS  THAT CHANGED THE WAY THE WORLD MOVES is nine picture books in one! Wow! Tell us a little about that journey, please.

Yes, nine picture book stories in nine months – just like having a baby, right? Fortunately, I had my trusty critique buddies to turn to – I never would have been able to do it without all of you!

The Spark: The whole thing started with a phone conversation with my sister who told me about a Swedish immigrant who came to America in 1905 at the age of 17 with just a few dollars in his pocket. But within 10 years, he had begun a shuttle service for the miners of Hibbing, MN…and that mushroomed into the Greyhound bus company. It sounded like a great story to me and my sister’s friend knew the granddaughter of that individual. I got more details after speaking with the granddaughter, did a ton of research, and wrote the manuscript. And just sent her a copy of the book…here is her response when she received it – and this is why I love writing books.

Greetings, Vivian!!

It is with very happy news I write to you today.

I was overjoyed to receive this beautifully illustrated and written work of art.

Of course, I hurried to Chapter Five after reading your kind note and inscription.

You did an amazing job of painting the picture of bus travel from the perspective of Eric’s contribution.

I am overwhelmed by your thoughtfulness and the depth you searched to present the story in such an inspiring way.

Kudos to you on a lovely book for children that will educate and motivate young readers for generations to come.

I will be purchasing and sending copies to my nieces and nephews today.

Many thanks for your generosity in sending me a signed copy and again, for your kind note.

Such a joy,

Diane Palermo

That’s wonderful! Ah, chapter five. I remember when that was a stand-alone work in progress. I knew it would go somewhere!

The Struggles: When HMH editor Ann Rider got that manuscript from my agent, she loved it – but wanted to make an innovative compilation book of various things that moved. I created a list for her of possible – and we went back and forth for a bit, adding and taking away – until we had nine that we loved. Some of the manuscripts were easier to write – some were harder. Some were easier to research – some were more difficult because there wasn’t a lot about the inventor – many of the ‘inventions’ weren’t your ‘ordinary’ car or train. The first mechanical arm (robotics), the first folding wheelchair, the first computer-generated ship design…those visionaries are fairly unknown and it was a challenge to find enough to craft a credible, nonfiction story for each…but as I tell kids during school visits: Nothing is impossible if you can imagine it! I dug deep – going through census records, contacting libraries in the towns where my subjects grew up or worked, even checking cemetery records.

When we first met, you were primarily working on fiction and a lot in rhyme. What sparked your interest in nonfiction? 

You are correct, Ellen. I loved writing in rhyme…and I still do love it…but I rarely do it. I’d love to write a nonfiction in rhyme…the closest I’ve come has been one nonfiction pb in free verse…that is out on submission, so we will see what happens.

What sparked my interest in NF was taking a nonfiction picture book writing course in 2014 – I absolutely fell in love with writing nonfiction – and I joined several nonfiction pb Facebook groups. There are quite a few…and there’s a super cool NF challenge going on right now: NF Fest. And of course, ReFoReMo (Reading for Research Month) where they study mentor texts. I’d always loved nonfiction as a kid and read the Encyclopedia Britannica for pleasure, so, I guess it’s not surprising that I love bringing history alive for kids with stories about mostly unknown visionaries – ordinary people who accomplished extraordinary things.

Ok, speaking of nonfiction workshops, I found this little gem of us and Linda Evans Hofke at a non-fiction workshop. I had to share! 

You are so prolific. Do you have a writing routine? And if so, will you share? And is it different with NF vs. Fiction?

I have to thank 12×12 for encouraging me to be writing…a lot! Those first few years in 12×12 I really did write 12 or more manuscripts each year. I don’t anymore because I’ve gotten busy with the other aspects of the writing journey. Of course, part of it is my somewhat intense focus on things that I love. I have a great passion for sharing these important stories – and a great passion for helping others share their stories.

Writing routine: don’t have one – wish I did. But I’m reveling in the fact that I don’t have to have a routine. You know, after a lifetime of having to get up early – for school, for work, for children…now, I don’t have to. And I love that. I’m not recommending my unscheduled schedule…but it works for me.

Unscheduled schedule: Up at ? (sometimes 9, sometimes 10 or later). Get washed and dressed. (yes, it’s funny, but I’m not a fan of being in pjs all day – I like to get dressed – it helps me feel that I am ready to work). Breakfast (Oatmeal/raisins/sliced apple/a spoonful of almond butter – and tea). Open my computer and check my email and respond. (this is a big mistake because that can take me several hours since people are usually reaching out for me to do a blog post for them for a new book that is launching or a teacher is looking for a read-aloud for her class or someone is needing feedback on a manuscript). The afternoon is spent writing blog posts, doing critiques, packing book labels/bookmarks that have been requested, checking social media, sharing posts on FB and Twitter. And we eat dinner around 6:30/7. Then maybe I watch a movie or an episode of Mad Men with my daughter and son-in-law. And then it is 9:30 or 10pm…and I can maybe sit down to write for a few hours…or, as I am doing right now at 1:30am, answering questions for a Q&A. 😊  

Perhaps I will get into a better schedule as we settle in here (I sold my house in August and my daughter and her husband sold their house and we bought a house that we could share and moved in together in October and it is AWESOME! I have my own wing and separate entrance…but we spend a lot of time together and just really enjoy being with each other – it’s the best of all worlds – and my 12-year-old grandson is here every other week – so that is icing on the cake!). I’d like to have a few hours during the day when I write – something old (revise) and something new (the last new story I wrote was in November – but the good news is that an editor asked for an R&R – so, if I could make time to work on that, I might have another book in the pipeline).

Fiction vs. Nonfiction: I haven’t written fiction for a while…nonfiction seems so much easier for me – the story is already there – you just have to decide how you are going to tell it. But I do have a zillion ideas for fiction stories.

Lots of good ideas! Where do you get your ideas? Is it something where you sit down and say, “I need to write something, so let me find something to write about,” or do you write when the spirit moves you?

Ah…and what a great segue into where do you get your ideas! 😊 My ideas come from everywhere. A conversation with my sister. A sentence uttered on a TV show. A picture I see online. But I guess the overriding factor is that my curiosity is sparked by something – and when I do a little research, a passion grows inside of me to tell that story because I feel kids need to hear it.

Not only do you continue to write amazing books, but you also take the time to highlight and support other writers. First of all, thank you. Secondly, how do you get the time?

Hahaha…I get the time by stealing it from the next day 😊 Ellen, I’m living my dream! It’s definitely true that most of my day is spent helping other writers and authors…either writing blog posts for Perfect Picture Book Friday, Will Write for Cookies and Book Birthdays or doing critiques or meeting on Zoom or on the phone with other writers to chat about their manuscripts or writing journey. But I love what I’m doing and I truly feel that when you have success, you have a mandate to help others to achieve their success. I mentor other writers through #PBChat and through other channels. I do webinars to share what I’ve learned. And of course, I host the #50PreciousWords International Writing Contest – this year it will be March 2-7 (during Read Across America Week) – and the prizes are already FABULOUS! Critiques with editors and agents and so much more. I also host the #50PreciousWordsforKids Writing Challenge in May during Children’s Book Week and this year I think we will have an unprecedented number of entries because of all of the school visits I’ve done.

If you follow my blog: www.viviankirkfield.com, you’ll get notifications of all of my posts. The official ‘contest is open’ post will go live on March 2. You can also follow me on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Pinterest, and Linkedin – I’m easy to find: I think if you input Vivian Kirkfield, I’ll pop up everywhere😊.

And here is a great picture of Vivian helping others as she speaks with the North Carolina Reading Association. She certainly has adapted to this virtual world! 

If you had only three words to encourage aspiring kidlit writers, what would they be?

Nothing Is Impossible

Passion Persistence Patience

It Will Happen

Never Give Up

Follow Your Dream

Be the Change

Write Revise Submit

Sorry, I just can’t help myself…but you’ll have to admit – each of those lines only has three words in it! 😊

 The rule of three times seven. I love it!  <3

So where can we get FROM HERE TO THERE as well as your other books? 

My books are available at Barnes & Noble and indie bookstores, as well as Bookshop.org and Amazon. If you order from my local indie, Toadstool Bookstore in Nashua, you can get a signed copy. If you order from anywhere else and would like a signed bookplate, please email her at: viviankirkfield@gmail.com.

From Here to There: Inventions That Changed the Way the World Moves: https://www.toadbooks.com/book/9781328560919

Making Their Voices Heard: The Inspiring Friendship of Ella Fitzgerald and Marilyn Monroe: https://www.toadbooks.com/book/9781499809152

Sweet Dreams, Sarah: From Slavery to Inventor: https://www.toadbooks.com/book/9781939547316

Four Otters Toboggan: An Animal Counting Book: https://www.toadbooks.com/book/9780764984358

Pippa’s Passover Plate:
https://www.toadbooks.com/book/9780823441624 

And now the grand giveaway! Just comment on this post and if you follow this blog or sign up to follow it, please let me know in the comment. You will have extra chances to win this FABULOUS prize! 

Vivian will be giving away a 30 minute Zoom chat for other kidlit creatives or a remote home or school author visit. Your choice! 

Vivian, as always, it was wonderful chatting with you. I wish you continued success in your career and your life! 

Thank you so much for having me, Ellen! It’s always a joy to spend time with you! And I’m looking forward to when Covid is under control and I can travel again…Texas is going to be one of my first destinations…hopefully there will be a conference or library association convention or book festival…and we will connect in person again!