Why I write Children's Fiction

I never thought I would write kid's books, honestly. Obviously, I started in with them and loved reading, my entire life, really. I remember every family reunion, showing up with my book, looking desperately for a place to hide away and read. But I started in to adult fiction (Fantasy, primarily) at a fairly young age and never really looked back. Every once in a while, I'd re-read something for nostalgia's sake, but was woefully out of touch with current trends.

Well, apart from Harry Potter, Lemony Snickett and Percy Jackson, I guess. I knew of them, but had only read the Potters, which Lindsay is obsessed with. However, when my wife suggested that I tried my hand at writing, a small germ of a novel appeared in the back of my head. I'd been writing a horror novel for a while, pecking away at it in my spare time at work, but the idea of starting fresh in a new world was irresistible. I also found out about a contest for a publishing contract and I couldn't resist.

So 11 year-old James "Smith" Campbell was born. The son of two scientists and book smart but a little introverted, Smith got his nickname after an attempt to run away and live at the Smithsonian. Sent to live with his aunt and uncle in a small fishing village called Moonstone Bay on the coast of Washington, he learns to make friends and explore the new world he finds himself in.

I really wanted something that showed my appreciation and love for the Pacific Northwest and the kooky things that are rumored to live in the area. The Whispering Ferns, my first novel in the area was about a ghostly figure in the woods, but even as I planned the book, sequels were brewing, with sea monsters, missing tribes, magic ravens, secret passages, pirates and sasquatches.

It really wasn't something I thought I'd love so much. Both the writing and the characters, but I found myself falling in love with the genre again. I re-read my old favorites - Bellairs, Dahl, Banks, The Hardy BoysAnd I picked up some of the new novels - I especially love Skullduggery Pleasant.

I had - and have - concerns that my books are a little old fashioned. Today's protagonists are are lot more cynical and worldly, while I made it a point to make Smith's books exist in a kind of timeless place. When things were a little more innocent.

I had some interest in the book, an agent wanted to see more, but nothing really ever panned out there. She liked my ideas, but they weren't modern enough. Luckily, e-Pubbing came along. But more about that later.

In the end, I loved writing for kids and plan to continue. If nothing else, I'd love it if the quiet boy in the corner of a family get together at some point in the future is escaping with one of my books.

~Kristopher

Rainy Day Songs - Boots Of Spanish Leather

Music has played a huge part in the lives of us both and every once in a while, we want to share a song or video that's shaped us, inspired us, or just made us giggle stupidly. I grew up listening to my mom's old 45s and singing along with the Muppets and Lindsay's dad has owned a fiercely independent record store for almost 40 years. We have a very eclectic taste in music - folk, rock, Irish, pop, quirky, sad... pretty much anything that isn't just screaming over drums.

This Rainy Day Song is Boots Of Spanish Leather.

Originally written and performed by the incomparable Bob Dylan, the version that's really caught my fancy lately is by The Airborne Toxic Event and can be found on the album "The Songs Of Bob Dylan, which is a four disc compilation of Dylan covers for a charity. I've always liked the song, but never really listened to the lyrics. (My wife will tell you - I listen to the song and can get emotional about it but when I sing along, the words are always all wrong.)

It's a beautiful song about love and how it falls apart of time and distance and sounds like an old sea shanty. I'd never heard of The Airborne Toxic Event, but I love this version... I'll have to seek out more. There's also a nice cover by the Irish Band Dervish that really has the sea shanty feel, but the ATE version is clearer and easier to hear the beauty of Dylan's lyrics. Enjoy!

Who are the Rainy Day Writers?

In short, we are a couple of married writers who enjoy creating children's books.  This is actually something of a new development in our lives.  If you had suggested to the two of us just five years ago that we would become children's book writers we wouldn't have believed it.  The process was a somewhat slow and subtle surprise for both of us.

For one thing, five years ago, Kris wasn't trying to be a writer.  He is an amazing artist, if a wife can brag her husband up a bit.  However his writing was limited to a few short stories.  I don't know that he ever imagined writing a full series of books.  His main interests were in crime novels, scifi, horror and fantasy.  I had figured that if he ever did get around to writing a novel it would be something for adults.  It was quite a shock to me when Kris found his inspiration to write and his first completed novel was about a young boy sleuthing around the woods and beaches of Washington.

While I've always wanted to be a professional writer, I had assumed that what I enjoyed creating was too dark to be children's books.  I thought that "See Spot Run" and "Babysitters Club" books were what they meant by children's books.  I'll admit that I was a bit too narrow-minded to realize the depth that some of the genre's books achieve and what the readers would allow.  I had thought that the idea of a series of dark children's books was something of an oxymoron.  Now I am excited to dive in and perhaps push the envelope.

Each of us has very different styles of children's writing and different interests in what children's stories we like to read.  Hopefully all of this will mesh well and become an interesting adventure for the writers and the readers!

The two of us are excited to invite you to our new blog, Rainy Day Writers, which will chronicle our writing adventures in the exciting would of children's novels.  Wish us luck and please come back soon to learn more about our novels and our thoughts on writing and reading children's books.