Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I am a middle-aged multitasker who loves to read and write. So far, I have written 9 nonfiction books for adults and two picture books for children. The nonfiction books reflect several of my interests: healing crystals, craft fairs, and libraries. My two picture books are part of my Rockin’ Fairy Garden Tales. In these, imaginative creatures learn subtle lessons on topics ranging from acceptance, friendship, and diversity to options regarding plastic straws.
My favorite genre to read is probably the cozy mysteries, but it’s difficult to say for sure. I belong to a book club to force myself out of my reading ruts. I read mainly fiction, but I write mostly nonfiction. It’s the educator in me.
I am a K-12 teacher-librarian at two school districts and am a Certified Crystal Healer. I make wire-wrapped jewelry and am a vendor at craft fairs and holistic health events. I taught high school English for many years before becoming a school librarian and have also been an adjunct college English instructor.
I have lived in three Midwestern states and have taught on three Dakota/Lakota/Sioux reservations. The smallest community had fewer than 100 residents, and the school library was the only library.
What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
“Beach Surprise: Unicorns, Mermaids, Flower Fairies, and Rainbow Rocks Meet at the Beach” was released on June 14, 2019. Children naturally love rocks, especially shiny ones, so I had started a series that had talking rocks. My students and grandchildren enjoy magical creatures like unicorns and mermaids, so they joined the talking rainbow rocks and flower fairies.
My grandmother’s collection of (costume) pearl jewelry inspired a book that ties in with plastic pollution in our oceans. Who better to explain the hazards of plastic straws than a mermaid? My children’s picture books combine science with imagination to share gentle messages along with the fun!
Do you have any unusual writing habits?
As a “recovering English teacher,” I can’t stop revising. Even after my books have been released, I keep revising and re-releasing long after the book’s initial publication. I want my books to be the best of my abilities, so I keep tweaking even though nobody else but me would probably even notice.
I don’t think this is unusual for a part-time writer, but I regularly lose sleep to write. I will think of something or want to “quickly” revise something around bedtime.
I’ll think, “OK, I am just going to do this one thing so I don’t forget it.”
One thing turns into one hour or two, maybe even more.
What authors, or books have influenced you?
When I was growing up, I read the Beany Malone series by Lenora Mattingly Weber so many times that the librarian eventually gave me most of the books. These books have long been out-of-print, but I will always keep them. They aren’t anything unique, but I loved them and read them repeatedly as a teenager and young adult. It was the characters and overall mood that captivated me.
What are you working on now?
I want to write another Rockin’ Fairy Garden Tale while it can still be photographed outside. Unfortunately, the focus is not yet fully focused! Fairy gardens aren’t that fun in the snow, you know! I know that I will rally in time. (Maybe tomorrow!)
What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
It’s difficult to market on a budget, but Awesome Gang is…well, awesome! It even has author interview opportunities! It’s helpful having websites share book promotions because my family and friends have seen my social media posts multiple times; now strangers get to learn about my books. (Hi, strangers!)
Do you have any advice for new authors?
Definitely go for that dream! The personal fulfillment is a “natural high.”
Writing the book is the fun part, proofreading it is the not-so-fun part, and marketing it is the ongoing challenge. People have to first find your book before sales can add up, making marketing a crucial component.
You will learn so much as you go! So, so much! Nobody knows it all, so don’t expect to know it all. Just take that first step and keep moving forward. Search online; you will find many answers.
What is the best advice you have ever heard?
The best advice is found in my favorite quote by Henry James:
“Three things in human life are important. The first is to be kind. The second is to be kind. And the third is to be kind.”
What are you reading now?
I finished “Dark Sacred Night” by Michael Connelly this morning and just started “Teaberry Loss of Tranquility” by R. A. Wallace.
What’s next for you as a writer?
I am writing more blogs for myself and others, and I will keep writing more books. Since photographs are an important part of my books, I need a better phone camera. I never know what will pop into my head, and that will be the next book.
If you were going to be stranded on a desert island and allowed to take 3 or 4 books with you what books would you bring?
I’d say that I’d take the longest book published, but what if I didn’t like it? This is an awful question because who can narrow it down to 3-4?
OK, I would take “The Book of Joy” by His Holiness the Dalai Lama and Archbishop Desmond Tutu with Douglas Abrams. I guess I’d take a college grammar book/anthology to keep my mind occupied; I know that sounds boring to most people. I could take two of my own books to revise them 100 more times, but that seems stupid. This question is too hard for me! I give up!
Author Websites and Profiles
Brenda DeHaan Website
Brenda DeHaan Amazon Profile
Brenda DeHaan’s Social Media Links
Facebook Profile