Interview with Michelle LaRowe Conover

As you may recall, I interviewed Michelle back in 2007 when her first book came out. She's now written two more books so I thought it would be fun to get an update interview. Enjoy...

What's your life been like since getting Nanny To The Rescue published?
Nanny to the Rescue! was the start of an "offical" writing career for me. Although I had written for several small time publications, having a book of my own in print was a huge door opener to the world of professional writing. It's paved the way for many media appearances and guest writing spots and has boosted the demand for my childcare related services.

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Are you currently working on another book? Can you tell us about the process you've taken to write this book?
Since Nanny to the Rescue! I've written an two additional books. Nanny to the Rescue! Again came out shorty after the first and is geared towards parents of children age 6-12. My third book, Working Moms 411 should be released by Regal sometime this year. I also wrote a chapter in the Expert's Guide to the Baby Years and am working on my fourth book as we speak.

Since I'm an overly organized person, writing books comes quite naturally. I develop a solid table of contents and work chapter by chapter, always in order. I try to look at the big picture of the book and break it into managable writing parts.

Having an amazing literary ageny and editor also helps. They've helped me develop my voice and do their best to market my book proposals.

In between book contracts, what does your writing life look like?
Lately I've been doing a lot of freelance work. I write regularly for TWINS Magazine and Families Online Magazine. Right now I'm writing the content for a family website that's going to launch. And I'm always thinking up a new idea, so lots of the time inbetween contracts goes towards developing new proposals to sell.

And now that I'm expecting a first child of my own, I'm doing a lot of journaling. So I keep fairly busy.

What advice could you leave those seeking publication?
Unfortunately I don't have much advice because the way I broke into the market was quite unique. I was sought out by a literary agent to write my first book. It's easier to keep writing, then to break into writing, so for me I never really had to do anything special to become published. I write, my agent sells.

So I guesss I can say this. If you're really interested in writing and you've been working on a project, draft a solid book proposal, get it professionally edited and search for a reputable literary agent to give it a look over. Once you get feedback from an agent, you'll have a better undertanding of where you stand.

Review: Skill Building Buddies

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I don’t know if you’ve noticed, but Autism is getting a lot of attention these days and parents with autistic children couldn’t be happier. After all, with awareness comes education and with education comes the ability to live a more stress-free life. And that’s why I want to introduce you to a wonderful DVD designed to help parents of autistic children: Skill-Building Buddies – Handling Transitions and Change.

It’s a remarkable look into the world of autism as it pertains to handling changes and transitions. Autism, according to the producers of Skill Building Buddies, is a “neurodevelopmental disorder that significantly affects communication and socialization and causes repetitive and restricted patterns of behavior.” In other words, change does not come easy for autistic children. And when change doesn’t come easy for the children it can often play havoc in the lives of everyone around the children.

I’m not an expert when it comes to autism and I know very little about the disorder or how it truly affects families, but I do know a few kids who have it and I can honestly say that even the smallest change—such as moving from one lesson to another or switching movies—can be traumatizing for the child. It can be exhausting and without proper training in how to effectively handle certain situations it can make the parents’ lives very stressful and chaotic.

That’s why I am recommending this DVD. It’s designed to make transitions from one activity to the next and changes in everyday life much easier for both the child and the parent. So if you have an autistic child or know someone who does, consider getting a copy of Skill-Building Buddies – Handling Transitions and Change where you’ll watch situations autistic children face every day and how to appropriately and effectively handle each situation.

6 Unimportant Things

Wyanne tagged me, over at http://wyartjewels.blogspot.com, so I thought I’d play along. The rules of the game are:

1. Link back to the person that tagged you.
2. Post these rules on your blog.
3. Share six unimportant things about yourself.
4. Tag six people at the end of your entry.

Six unimportant things about me are:

1. I was so quiet and shy as a child that my peers thought I was a snob. And because of their perception of me, I didn't have many friends growing up.
   
   
2. As a young child all I ever wanted to be was a mother. And I wanted to marry a man that would have enough money to allow me the luxuries I didn't have as a child; including the ability to travel the world without incuring any debt.
   
   
3. After graduating high school I discovered that a few guys I really, really wanted to ask me out on a date never did because they were afraid I'd say no.
   
   
4. My best friend in high school was a guy and he was the only person my husband ever worried about stealing me away. And yet, because my friend was so important to me, my husband kept his fears to himself--which he later realized were unwarranted.
   
   
5. There are days when I really need the friendship of others but for the most part I like my solitude--I think it keeps me out of trouble.
   
   
6. I work in a bat cave! No, seriously, I do. Well, okay that's a lie. I work in the basement of our home which is dark and cold, just like a bat cave. As a matter of fact, my feet currently feel as though they've been emerged in a foot of snow and we have no snow. I'm seriously thinking of relocating the office--or investing in a good heater.
   
   

As for those 6 blogger friends...I tag YOU! and of course, the five listed below...

• Shari Beaubien
  
• Tina L. Miller
  
• Sharin Thomlinson
  
• Roz
  
• Kelly Huckaby