Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
Hi,
I live on a little hill in NE Texas where everything is bigger–including the bugs. I homeschool my 3 children, run a cleaning business, and try to keep up with the millions of hobbies that interest.
I have written 3 iPad picture books for Flyingbooks.me including “There’s A Lump in My Bed”, a rhyming books filled with colors and fun animals illustrated by Jenna Matsalla. “Forests for the Children”, a introduction to the Nobel Peace Prize Winner Wangari Muta Maathai through lyrical text and awesome illustrations by Helen Pallares. The last, “Move it! Move it!” is in the works and a story about trucks.
I have had several short stories appear in magazines such as PKA Advocate, Rainbow Rumpus. 2014 will see two more in Skipping Stones and Nature’s Friend. I also love sci-fi and fantasy and have two stories coming out in that genre as well.
My current project, of which “A Different Kind of Cheerleader”, is a series of inspirational young adult books with physically challenged teens as the stars.
What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
My latest book is A Different Kind of Cheerleader. It is the story of Tansy, a 13 year old paraplegic with a chip on her shoulder at life and God. The inspiration came from seeing pictures and reading news stories of para-athletes all over the world. The strength of character and body for them to achieve their dreams is inspiring. It got me thinking about a girl who had had her dreams shattered, but who learned that through God anything becomes possible. Having an awesome BFF and an ex-marine as an assistant coach helped too!
Do you have any unusual writing habits?
Not really. I grab writing time as I can. My favorite thing to do is sit outside and edit while the kids play. I think more clearly in the sunshine and have found I can block out A LOT!
What authors, or books have influenced you?
I devour books. Literally. Sometimes one or two a night. So to pin it down on one or two authors really isn’t fair. I grew up reading things like The Chronicles of Narnia, Little Women, The Secret Garden, Charlotte’s Web. Now I read just about anything. I have lots of author friends through my local writer’s group and they are all wonderfully inspirational.
What are you working on now?
Right now I am finishing up a Christian romance and have submitted it to an agent. But the second of the para-athlete series is constantly intruding and wanting to be written–along with a sci-fi short story for an upcoming comic con contest and a fantasy. I will have to decide on one–soon.
What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
This is something I am still learning. But I have become a Twitter addict. I love it. So much information in those itty bitty messages. In fact, all of social media is great for promoting and I think is quickly becoming more effective than tours and signings.
Do you have any advice for new authors?
You have to find a good critique group, at the very least a good beta reader. It is so easy to miss the flaws in our own work and there are just some things that a writer does out of habit that they might not pick up on that others will.
What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Revise. Revise. Revise. I know this is beat to death and I used to whip something out on paper and declare it good, but now I see how when I agonize over something, even read it through a few times, how much better I can make it. The other piece of advice (also heard a lot) is put your work away for a while. Try it. It works.
What are you reading now?
Right now I have by my bed “Four Arguments for the Elimination of Television” by Jerry Mander and–since this is pretty heavy ready–Brian Sanderson’s “Alloy of Law”.
What’s next for you as a writer?
Most likely Book 2 in my para-athlete series.
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 simply cannot answer this fairly. I would take my nook and load it with as many books as it could hold.
Author Websites and Profiles
Lira Brannon Website
Lira Brannon Amazon Profile
Lira Brannon’s Social Media Links