Today, it’s my pleasure to welcome Darlene Foster to my blog. Brought up on a ranch in southern Alberta, Darlene dreamt of travelling the world, meeting interesting people and writing stories. She is the author of the exciting adventure series featuring spunky 12 year-old Amanda Ross who loves to travel to unique places. Her books include: Amanda in Arabia – The Perfume Flask, Amanda in Spain – The Girl in The Painting, Amanda in England – The Missing Novel and Amanda in Alberta – The Writing on the Stone. Readers from seven to seventy enjoy travelling with Amanda as she unravels one mystery after another. Darlene and her husband divide their time between the west coast of Canada and Orihuela Costa, in Spain. She believes everyone is capable of making their dreams come true.
So without further ado, here’s Darlene!
The Joy of Writing for Children
Writing for children is important to me because I want children to develop the same love of books I had as a child. A love that doesn’t fade with time. Children’s books create lifelong readers; readers who eventually buy adult books. Without children’s books there may be no market for adult books.
I began my love affair with words many years ago. Some of my fondest memories are being read to as a child, visiting the library, and discovering the ability to read by myself. I still have worn copies of favourite childhood books, such as The Bobbsey Twins, Little Women, Black Beauty and Anne of Green Gables; and revisit these old friends from time to time. Books and children go together like toast and jam, in my opinion. Since I never show up without a book as a gift, my grandchildren call me, The Book Gramma. It´s not surprising that I love to write for children.
One grandmother purchased a set of my Amanda travel/adventure books and sent me this email which made my heart sing:
My 12 year old granddaughter just finished your books. She loved them. We were camping and we kept telling her to put the books down and come and play. This is the first time I have seen her get so excited about a book. Your books have given her a love of reading. Thanks for the good reads.
While writing for children can be fun, it isn´t easy. You have to remove yourself from the adult world and think like a twenty-first century kid. Fortunately, I like to hang around kids, listen to the words they use, observe the gestures, the looks, the trends. I also enjoy reading current, middle reader books to see what sparks the interest of today’s young readers. Children notice things adults wouldn’t and could care less about things adults think are important. It’s necessary to get into their head space. And guess what? While I’m writing, I get to be a kid again – and I love it!
The main character in my first book, Amanda in Arabia-The Perfume Flask, is a Canadian girl who wishes for travel and adventure on her twelfth birthday. The next day she gets a ticket to fly to the United Arab Emirates to visit her aunt and uncle. There she has an adventure of a lifetime. One young reader said, “I want to know where Amanda will travel to next.” That motivated me to write Amanda in Spain-The Girl in The Painting.
I had so much fun writing about Amanda, her travels and escapades that I continued by writing Amanda in England-The Missing Novel. One day, while doing a presentation at a school, a student asked me, “Why doesn´t Amanda stay in Alberta and have an adventure?” I said, “That´s a great idea,” and wrote Amanda in Alberta – The Writing on the Stone. Kids are always giving me ideas. I am currently working on book number five. I have to, my young fans are expecting it.
It brings me much joy to write my books as these fans will grow up and buy adult books soon. Writers of children’s books are creating readers for life. It’s an important job and one I am happy to take on.
Thank you so much, Darlene. It was a pleasure to have you visit.
If you’d like to learn more about Darlene and her books check out her website blog Amazon
Carl D'Agostino
/ September 9, 2015I follow DF
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syr ruus
/ September 9, 2015So true, Darlene. Once a reader, always a reader (usually). So happy for your success.
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Darlene
/ September 9, 2015Thanks Syr. If we can get them hooked as children, they will be more likely to read as adults. I find children raised in front of the TV don´t tend to to read much as adults. (Of course there is always an exception to the rule!)
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Darlene
/ September 9, 2015Thank you so much for having me as a guest on your blog Laura. 😀
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Laura Best
/ September 9, 2015It’s always great to have you come, Darlene!
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Darlene
/ September 9, 2015Reblogged this on Darlene Foster's Blog and commented:
Today I am a guest on Laura Best´s blog, talking about why I love writing for children.
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tearoomdelights
/ September 9, 2015What an uplifting post. Books you remember from childhood can remain real treasures in adulthood, as you say. Sometimes there’s a perception that writing for children is easier than writing for adults, but children can be a demanding audience. They need to have their attention kept by the story, and it can be quite a challenge for adults to get back into the mindset of children. I think you do a great job on both fronts with your Amanda stories.
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Darlene
/ September 12, 2015Thank you so much.You always say the nicest things.
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marianbeaman
/ September 9, 2015Joy is written all over this post, Darlene. And what better way to share the joy than to extend into the next generation, which is what ALL of your books do. Thank you, Laura, for featuring this fine author friend.
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Darlene
/ September 9, 2015Thanks Marian, that is very kind of you. Glad you got to meet Laura.
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Barbara
/ September 9, 2015Hi Darlene, you must have been thrilled to receive the email from the grandmother. It is always fun to read more about you.
Hello Laura, I’ve not visited your blog before so I’m going to have a bit of a look around. Barbara
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Laura Best
/ September 9, 2015Hi Barbara! Welcome. Nice to have you visit! 😀
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Darlene
/ September 10, 2015That email from the grandmother made my day and confirmed my commitment to keep writing. So pleased you met Laura.
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Linda Cassidy Lewis
/ September 9, 2015I love your reasons for writing for children, Darlene! I wish you many more adventures—for yourself and Amanda—and much success. 🙂
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Darlene
/ September 10, 2015Thanks Linda. We started on this writing thing around the same time. Your encouragement has always meant a lot to me.
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pattisj
/ September 10, 2015Laura, thanks for hosting our beloved Darlene!
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Darlene
/ September 10, 2015Thanks Patti. So great to have you visit me here.
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chelharris
/ September 10, 2015I was exactly the same as you Darlene , as a child I read constantly . When I lived in the midlands I joined a book group for adults but we read childrens or young adult books . It was so lovely to read books I’d read as a child and some I hadn’t read . One was Anne Of Green Gables …I loved it . The importance of E in Anne was paramount . I will have to seek your books out …
Cherryx
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Darlene
/ September 11, 2015Another Anne of Green Gables fan! We have so much in common. Thanks for visiting me here. If you do read my books, I would love to hear what you thought of them.
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mariamhyder88
/ September 11, 2015Your thoughts to write for children are inspiring.
Today, I do not find children much interested in reading books. But you encourage them to read and that is very impressive 🙂
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Darlene
/ September 12, 2015If the books catch their interest, they will read them. I am always surprised at how many children still enjoy reading. Thanks for your comment.
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janlcoates
/ September 15, 2015It’s the whole imagination thing, isn’t it, that differentiates between reading a book and watching TV/movies? I’m so happy kids are still exercising their imaginations by reading (and playing outside). Feels like fall has arrived here on the east coast of Canada:(
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Darlene
/ September 18, 2015It is all about using your imagination. It is still summer here in Spain but not as hot as it was. It must be beautiful with the leaves changing colour.
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learningmamacom
/ September 16, 2015We’re trying to raise lifelong readers here and nothing makes me happier than to see my children with their noses in a book! Writing for children sounds like so much fun 🙂
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Darlene
/ September 18, 2015So pleased to hear that your children have their noses in books! Thanks for commenting.
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cluculzwriter
/ September 17, 2015Such an inspiring post, Darlene. To influence children, to guide them into a love affair with books is a truly wondrous occupation. Kudos to you.
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Darlene
/ September 18, 2015Thanks so much!
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roughwighting
/ September 19, 2015A treat to have Darlene, who I enjoy ‘knowing’ through our blogs, here at your site, Laura. Yes, a very inspiring story of a love of the written word, a quest to write good books for children, and a belief that dreams can come true. Love the e-mail from the grandmother! I write romantic suspense for adults, usually, but now that I have grandchildren, I’m also working on a picture book for the youngest, and other stories for the 7-year-old. Their reactions to my stories add much joy to my life! Cheers to both of you, Darlene and Laura.
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Darlene
/ September 20, 2015Thanks for visiting me here at Laura´s blog. God luck with your children´s books!
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Darlene
/ September 20, 2015Of course that should be good luck!
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Pragmatic Mom
/ September 25, 2015I love a good book series that allows me to arm chair travel alongside. Yours sounds great! Thanks for sharing at the Kid Lit Blog Hop!
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lisaorchard1
/ October 10, 2015Great post Darlene
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