Photo: Courtesy of Marcia Berneger
Please tell us a little bit about yourself and your background.
I’m a retired teacher living with my husband and three crazy dogs in sunny Southern California. I have two wonderful sons. One is married and has given me an amazing grandson. Ori is almost fifteen months old and I love spending time with him. He has already inspired two picture book stories.
What inspired you to become an author?
I’ve been a writer most of my life. I wrote my first story when I was about ten years old. I began writing with an eye toward publishing about twenty years ago. The first draft of A Dreidel in Time was written around that time. In 2012, I had a student who loved garbage trucks, but was terrified of going into first grade. I looked for a garbage truck book with a young garbage truck, to encourage my student to be brave. I couldn’t find any, so I wrote one for him. That turned into my first published picture book.
Where and when do you write? Do you have a writing routine?
I’m not a very disciplined writer. I’m easily side-tracked by emails and Facebook, but I do manage to write almost every day. I used to use journals, and probably have twenty or more filled with ideas in a drawer. I now use my computer for my writing. I write mostly in the evening after dinner and sometimes during the day on weekends, if I’m not playing with Ori.
How long does it take you to finish a book?
It took me just a few weeks to write A Dreidel in Time. It took about fifteen more years to pull it back out of the drawer I’d hidden it in (this was one of my original “journal” stories). Then it took me over a year to revise it (and revise it and revise it again) before I sent it out. It takes me about several weeks to write a short novel, if I work on it every day. But that only produces a very sloppy-copy first draft. It takes over a year for me to turn it into a polished manuscript.
Which authors can we find in your library?
My library is usually filled with picture books about whatever I’m currently writing about. I just finished a book about Debbie Friedman and I have books by Nancy Churnin and Brad Meltzer on my desk because they write great biographies. I recently moderated a panel on religious diversity, so I have picture books by Melissa Stoller, Callie Metler and Shirin Shamsi, and by Ruth Spiro. I also enjoy the amazing picture books written by Salina Yoon, Miranda Paul and Henry Herz. (But, I have many, many other picture books on my shelves!)
What advice would you give an aspiring author?
Read, read, read! Read everything. You can get your hands on in the genre you want to write. Then write. Once you start, don’t stop along the way to critique yourself. Get that first sloppy copy done! Join SCBWI—it’s an amazing organization filled with wonderful, helpful people. Go to workshops and conferences—you’ll get a lot of basic information you’ll need if you’re just starting out. Find a critique group or partner you can share work with. Once you’ve got a good story going, find a group of children in the right age range for your book and read it to them. Watch them as you read it, then ask them to help you by telling you their favorite part, and the part they think needs to be revised (or fixed). It’s always fun to hear what they say. Keep writing and don’t give up! The road to being a published author is long and winding with a few potholes along the way. But it’s a worthy journey with the reward of seeing your book in a child’s hands. There’s nothing better than that!
Where can our readers purchase your books?
Of course my books can be found on Amazon and at Barnes and Nobel, but I do have a favorite bookstore I’d love you to order from. It’s called Sandcastle Tales. My two published books are A Dreidel In Time (ISBN-13:978-1541552654) and Buster the Little Garbage Truck (ISBN-13:978-1585368945).
On which Social Media channels can our readers connect with you?
I’m on Facebook and Twitter with my full name: @marciaberneger or #marciaberneger
Photos: Courtesy of Marcia Berneger
