Interview with a Highlights WINNAH!
Congratulations to my talented and lovely friend Rebecca Kraft Rector, who is one of three winners of this year's Highlights for Children Fiction Contest. I adore her story, "The Leaky Robot", and can't wait until everyone can read it in print.
Rebecca has consented to be my first-ever interviewee (below). She's given me all the scoop about herself, her story and what it's like to be a winner of the contest. If you have other questions for Rebecca, post a comment and she can write back as time allows.
Give me your query-letter spiel about your writing career.
My publishing credits include TRIA AND THE GREAT STAR RESCUE (Delacorte), “Little Miss Perfect and Me” in THE KINGFISHER BOOK OF HORSE AND PONY STORIES (Kingfisher), and stories, poems, and puzzles in Ladybug, Cricket, and other magazines. I am a children’s librarian and a member of the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators.
Tell me about your winning story!
The story falls into the younger reader/under 500 words category. It's about what happens when Mr. Moon orders a rowboat and receives a robot instead.
How did you find out that you won?
I received a phone call at 8:59 a.m. on April 30. I was in the middle of trying to open a Band-aid and had it dangling from one finger the whole time I talked to Marileta Robinson.
What did Highlights like about your story?
From notes that I scribbled while we talked: clever word play, logic and consistency, humor, the ending that brought home all those things, and the illustration possibilities.
Have you entered Highlights contests before?
Yes. Never won, never had any stories bought. I wasn't going to enter this time either, but the theme (stories set in the future) was perfect for me since I love science fiction
How long did it take you to write and edit the story, soup-to-nuts?
Usually I take forever (like years) to write something. But I woke up one morning with the idea and wrote the story in a few hours. I took the rest of the week to edit it and sent it in.
What will you do with your winnings? Trip to vegas? Lifetime supply of chocolate chips? A brand-new Frigidaire?
The lifetime supply of chocolate chips is tempting! I ought to use the money for house repairs, but I'm going to try to invest it in my writing through a workshop, class, etc.
When will your story appear?
I don't know yet. I did notice that one of last year's winning stories was published recently. The other two aren't out yet. So I expect it'll be at least a year.
Any advice for future entrants to the contest?
Enter. What do you have to lose?
I read lots and lots of Highlights stories to get an idea of the structure and pacing. You soon learn what a Highlights story should 'feel' like. Also, Marileta said that many stories fall short with the endings. Make sure the end is just as good as the rest of your story.
Um, am I forgetting to ask you for any other vital, fascinating or fun info?
Big thanks go to my cyberwriting buddies, who gave me encouragement and superfast feedback so I could make the deadline.
And let's not forget Rebecca's writing mascot and good-luck charm (I am a little biased in my love, since I found the little guy on Etsy and sent him the day I read her story!)
by Dogbone Art
Rebecca has consented to be my first-ever interviewee (below). She's given me all the scoop about herself, her story and what it's like to be a winner of the contest. If you have other questions for Rebecca, post a comment and she can write back as time allows.
Give me your query-letter spiel about your writing career.
My publishing credits include TRIA AND THE GREAT STAR RESCUE (Delacorte), “Little Miss Perfect and Me” in THE KINGFISHER BOOK OF HORSE AND PONY STORIES (Kingfisher), and stories, poems, and puzzles in Ladybug, Cricket, and other magazines. I am a children’s librarian and a member of the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators.
Tell me about your winning story!
The story falls into the younger reader/under 500 words category. It's about what happens when Mr. Moon orders a rowboat and receives a robot instead.
How did you find out that you won?
I received a phone call at 8:59 a.m. on April 30. I was in the middle of trying to open a Band-aid and had it dangling from one finger the whole time I talked to Marileta Robinson.
What did Highlights like about your story?
From notes that I scribbled while we talked: clever word play, logic and consistency, humor, the ending that brought home all those things, and the illustration possibilities.
Have you entered Highlights contests before?
Yes. Never won, never had any stories bought. I wasn't going to enter this time either, but the theme (stories set in the future) was perfect for me since I love science fiction
How long did it take you to write and edit the story, soup-to-nuts?
Usually I take forever (like years) to write something. But I woke up one morning with the idea and wrote the story in a few hours. I took the rest of the week to edit it and sent it in.
What will you do with your winnings? Trip to vegas? Lifetime supply of chocolate chips? A brand-new Frigidaire?
The lifetime supply of chocolate chips is tempting! I ought to use the money for house repairs, but I'm going to try to invest it in my writing through a workshop, class, etc.
When will your story appear?
I don't know yet. I did notice that one of last year's winning stories was published recently. The other two aren't out yet. So I expect it'll be at least a year.
Any advice for future entrants to the contest?
Enter. What do you have to lose?
I read lots and lots of Highlights stories to get an idea of the structure and pacing. You soon learn what a Highlights story should 'feel' like. Also, Marileta said that many stories fall short with the endings. Make sure the end is just as good as the rest of your story.
Um, am I forgetting to ask you for any other vital, fascinating or fun info?
Big thanks go to my cyberwriting buddies, who gave me encouragement and superfast feedback so I could make the deadline.
And let's not forget Rebecca's writing mascot and good-luck charm (I am a little biased in my love, since I found the little guy on Etsy and sent him the day I read her story!)
by Dogbone Art