gcrinterview

CK You are a member of the Society of Children's Writers and Illustrators. Can you give a brief description of this society and what the benefits are of belonging to it? What first inspired you to write for children?

GCR The Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators is a professional organization for writers and illustrators of children's literature. The organization is divided into regions. Colorado and Wyoming make up the Rocky Mountain region.

One of the biggest benefits for me is that the Rocky Mountain region hosts both a spring and fall seminar. They attempt to bring in speakers with expertise on issues that pertain to children book writer and illustrators. It is a good way to network with others who have the common interest of writing for children.

CK You served in the US Navy for nine years. Could you give a little information on that, what you did, what bases or ships you served on and was any of it served during wartime?

My first ship after school was the USS Orion, (AS18) a submarine tender (repair ship) stationed in Norfolk, VA. While stationed on the USS Orion we made our annual cruise to Bermuda for six weeks. Bermuda in February is great.

After returning from Bermuda I was transferred to the USS Hunley (AS31) a new submarine tender under construction. The USS Hunley was the first new submarine tender built since WWII. It was designed to do repair to the nuclear powered missile firing submarines. I was stationed on the USS Hunley in Holy Lock Scotland until October 1964.

After spending a fun winter in and around Chicago I received orders to the USS Enterprise "CVAN 65" at Norfolk, VA, an aircraft carrier. The Enterprise was built in the same shipyard as the Hunley in Newport News, VA. I worked in the catapult and elevator shop. In December 1965 we left Norfolk, VA and sailed east to join the war effort in Viet Nam. We lost 19 men during the 6 months off the coast of Viet Nam. The only good experience of this trip was that by crossing the equator I became a Shellback. The USS Enterprise returned to the states but to San Francisco in June 1966 and I was transferred to shore duty in Bayonne, NJ

After two years in Bayonne I was transferred to the USS Palm Beach (AGER3) in Wonderful Norfolk, VA. A spy ship. Kaz, do you remember the Pueblo that was captured by the North Koreans? The Palm Beach was her sister ship. We made one cruise to the Mediterranean where we would sneak up on Russian ships and spy on them. What we really did was get up wind and hold barbecues on the fantail every Sunday. It was our way of paying them back for having to be there. I was the senior electrician on board and missed many a night sleep because this ship was in bad shape.

The last ship I was on was an old Destroyer the USS Vogelgesang (DD862). It was older than I was. What a piece of junk. Again, I was the senior electrician. I kept telling them I was going to get out but they didn't believe me. Finally when I had a week to go the high lined me from the Vogelgesand to a supply ship and flew me back to the states.

GCR As an auditor I have always had to write reports. Every audit has a written report. I wrote several professional related articles for publication in professional newsletter and monthly journals. The best of these was entitled "The Auditor and Illegal Acts" it was published in the Certified Fraud Examiners White Paper, a monthly nation publication. I got a professional development award from the Inspector General of Health and Human Services for the article.

I wrote an article for a Greyhound Racing magazine on greyhound racing owners in Louisiana. I don't even think the magazine exist anymore.

I tried my first novel about 12 years ago but never got past the third chapter. I still keep it around but haven't worked on it in years. It is a disaster book about the Mississippi River and a big flood that ruins Louisiana.

I started writing for children and did "Patrick Goes Fishing" and tried to get it published, but couldn't. I wrote two additional Patrick stories but was so disappointed with the publishing process that I never submitted them.

I wrote Drummer last year and submitted it to only 5 traditional publishers before I decided to go with POD publishing and publish through iUniverse.

GCR I have two additional books in the works. One entitled Privateer set during the American Revolution and a sequel to Drummer Johnny Jackson after the civil war.

CK Drummer is an important book because it will educate children about the colored troops that fought in the Civil War. How did this story come about? Do you do a lot of research before delving into your stories?

GCR My wife and I were in the elementary school library where she works and we were talking about all the books that are available for girls and how difficult it is to keep young boys interested in reading. I didn't start out to write a story about black troops, but in doing research I found an article on colored drummers in the civil war and wrote the story from there. I lived around the area for years and used that knowledge in writing the book.

GCR I plan to try and do as many book signings as possible. I also plan to have two and maybe three web sites. I also plan to send copies of the book for review by the children's editor in Boulder and Denver.

GCR If an author is willing to do the marketing for their book I would strongly recommend POD. From what I heard at the spring conference of the Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators if they are published through a regular publishing company they better be prepared to do most of the marketing anyway.

GCR Pick a subject that you think the children would like to know more about. Don't get bogged down in detail. Try to keep it exciting. Teach a little, but more important let the child enjoy the story.

CK Thanks, Mr. Richardson. I sincerely hope that Drummer will get the recognition it deserves. Best of luck in all your writing endeavors.



	An interview of children's author George C. Richardson by agent/author Carol Kluz

		CK You are a member of the Society of Children's Writers and Illustrators. Can you give a brief description of this society and what the benefits are of belonging to it? What first inspired you to write for children? GCR The Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators is a professional organization for writers and illustrators of children's literature. The organization is divided into regions. Colorado and Wyoming make up the Rocky Mountain region. One of the biggest benefits for me is that the Rocky Mountain region hosts both a spring and fall seminar. They attempt to bring in speakers with expertise on issues that pertain to children book writer and illustrators. It is a good way to network with others who have the common interest of writing for children. One of the other benefits is the option to belong to a critique group either at a local library or online. CK You served in the US Navy for nine years. Could you give a little information on that, what you did, what bases or ships you served on and was any of it served during wartime? GCR I joined the US Navy two days after I graduated from high school. I was seventeen at the time. After boot camp, the Navy sent me to school for 14 weeks to become an Electricians Mate. My first ship after school was the USS Orion, (AS18) a submarine tender (repair ship) stationed in Norfolk, VA. While stationed on the USS Orion we made our annual cruise to Bermuda for six weeks. Bermuda in February is great. After returning from Bermuda I was transferred to the USS Hunley (AS31) a new submarine tender under construction. The USS Hunley was the first new submarine tender built since WWII. It was designed to do repair to the nuclear powered missile firing submarines. I was stationed on the USS Hunley in Holy Lock Scotland until October 1964. With the death of my father, I was transferred back to the Electrician's Mate "B"school at Great Lakes, IL. After spending a fun winter in and around Chicago I received orders to the USS Enterprise "CVAN 65" at Norfolk, VA, an aircraft carrier. The Enterprise was built in the same shipyard as the Hunley in Newport News, VA. I worked in the catapult and elevator shop. In December 1965 we left Norfolk, VA and sailed east to join the war effort in Viet Nam. We lost 19 men during the 6 months off the coast of Viet Nam. The only good experience of this trip was that by crossing the equator I became a Shellback. The USS Enterprise returned to the states but to San Francisco in June 1966 and I was transferred to shore duty in Bayonne, NJ After two years in Bayonne I was transferred to the USS Palm Beach (AGER3) in Wonderful Norfolk, VA. A spy ship. Kaz, do you remember the Pueblo that was captured by the North Koreans? The Palm Beach was her sister ship. We made one cruise to the Mediterranean where we would sneak up on Russian ships and spy on them. What we really did was get up wind and hold barbecues on the fantail every Sunday. It was our way of paying them back for having to be there. I was the senior electrician on board and missed many a night sleep because this ship was in bad shape. The last ship I was on was an old Destroyer the USS Vogelgesang (DD862). It was older than I was. What a piece of junk. Again, I was the senior electrician. I kept telling them I was going to get out but they didn't believe me. Finally when I had a week to go the high lined me from the Vogelgesand to a supply ship and flew me back to the states. I have been to 22 countries on four continents. I was around the world and I have no desire to leave the US again. CK What other types of writing have you done? For what and where? GCR As an auditor I have always had to write reports. Every audit has a written report. I wrote several professional related articles for publication in professional newsletter and monthly journals. The best of these was entitled "The Auditor and Illegal Acts" it was published in the Certified Fraud Examiners White Paper, a monthly nation publication. I got a professional development award from the Inspector General of Health and Human Services for the article. I wrote an article for a Greyhound Racing magazine on greyhound racing owners in Louisiana. I don't even think the magazine exist anymore. I tried my first novel about 12 years ago but never got past the third chapter. I still keep it around but haven't worked on it in years. It is a disaster book about the Mississippi River and a big flood that ruins Louisiana. I started writing for children and did "Patrick Goes Fishing" and tried to get it published, but couldn't. I wrote two additional Patrick stories but was so disappointed with the publishing process that I never submitted them. I wrote Drummer last year and submitted it to only 5 traditional publishers before I decided to go with POD publishing and publish through iUniverse. CK Do you have any more books in the hopper? Will they also be of a historical nature? GCR I have two additional books in the works. One entitled Privateer set during the American Revolution and a sequel to Drummer Johnny Jackson after the civil war. CK Drummer is an important book because it will educate children about the colored troops that fought in the Civil War. How did this story come about? Do you do a lot of research before delving into your stories? GCR My wife and I were in the elementary school library where she works and we were talking about all the books that are available for girls and how difficult it is to keep young boys interested in reading. I didn't start out to write a story about black troops, but in doing research I found an article on colored drummers in the civil war and wrote the story from there. I lived around the area for years and used that knowledge in writing the book. CK What are some of the marketing techniques you intend to implement in order to get the word out about Drummer? GCR I plan to try and do as many book signings as possible. I also plan to have two and maybe three web sites. I also plan to send copies of the book for review by the children's editor in Boulder and Denver. The book is being sent to schools in Chicago, IL and Akron, OH CK Why did you decide to go with POD publishing? GCR I was tired of rejection notices from publishers that I don't believe are reading the books that they receive. CK Would you recommend POD publishing to other aspiring authors? Why or why not? GCR If an author is willing to do the marketing for their book I would strongly recommend POD. From what I heard at the spring conference of the Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators if they are published through a regular publishing company they better be prepared to do most of the marketing anyway. CK What advice would you give to someone aspiring to write a children's historical novel? GCR Pick a subject that you think the children would like to know more about. Don't get bogged down in detail. Try to keep it exciting. Teach a little, but more important let the child enjoy the story. CK Thanks, Mr. Richardson. I sincerely hope that Drummer will get the recognition it deserves. Best of luck in all your writing endeavors.