Interview with Doris Booth, Editor of Authorlink.com

Authorlink: What is Jingle the Brass about?

Newman: JTB is a train book kicked up a notch. A boy takes a rail journey down the main line with the engineer and his fireman using the colorful railroading lingo popular in the age of steam engines. The book starts with the engineer greeting the boy in a diner. "Mornin. I've been waitin' for you. Pull up a stool and put on the nosebag with me while I finish my breakfast. I like my eggs with headlights, but you'd like scrambled. Just order wreck on the mainline.

AL: How did you come up with the concept?

Newman: Researching another book idea. I had arranged an interview with a retired Southern Pacific engineer at the California State Railroad Museum. Throughout the interview he used words like mud hop and bending the iron. I knew kids would love the magical sounds of these words, so I put aside my original idea and wrote JTB.

AL: How did you find your agent?

Newman: Luck. I attended a Society for Children's Book Writers and Illustrators conference and signed up for a manuscript critique. I found out at the conference that the guest agent was assigned to read and comment on my work. She began the 10-minute critique session with, "If you're ever in the market for an agent, please, please let me know!" How could I pass that up?

AL: What made FSG buy the book?

Newman: The originality of the concept. No one had ever done a train book using the actual slang of the profession, and it's proven to be popular. Just recently JTB was featured in the May issue of ALA’s Booklinks magazine, and described as an “engaging picture book [that] effectively shows how specific words are a joy to both the ear and the imagination.” That's what I was going for.

AL: Have you had many rejections?

Newman: JTB was rejected 16 times before FSG purchased it. Rejection is part of this business. You can be rejected for a variety of reasons--not just poor writing. A lot of publishing has to do with finding the right fit between editor and author. When my stories are rejected, I take a deep breath, figure out what I can learn from the rejection and begin again. Perseverance is my watch-word.

AL: What is the best thing about being a writer?

Newman: It's hard to pick just one "best" thing. I love the freedom to make my own hours. I love losing myself in a story to resurface hours later in the "real" world. I love reading JTB to kids because when I look at their faces completely engaged in the story, I know it's good. Kids don't sit still for boring stories.

AL: What encouragement do you have for new writers?

Newman: 3 things

a. Start small. I began with magazines and local publications

b. Learn about writers who do what you want to do. If you want to write for children, my website is a great place to start. Over 80 children's author profiles are available at www.patriciamnewman.com

c. Learn to write on the run. I carry something to edit wherever I go--picking kids up from school, my son's karate class, the doctor's office, everywhere!

AL: Do you have more Jingle the Brass books on the way?

Newman: I have a companion mss to JTB with my editor now and several other books undergoing the submission process. No contracts yet, but remember, my watch-word is perseverance.