How/why did you start to write?
I started writing dictated books as a child
before I could read or write. Luckily,
I had teachers who understood that a love of stories and storytelling was far
more important than learning the ABCs.
Thanks to them, I became a storyteller first – that all-important skill
of developing “voice” before it got smothered by teaching writing.
How did you become an author?
I knew I wanted to be an author by age
4. It took me a few decades to do
it. One reason it took so long is
simply because of my deep admiration for authors. I feared I couldn’t live up
to my own high expectations. It takes
“self-confidence guts” to take your writing seriously. After you do that, you have to take drastic
steps to carve out room for writing in your life. By this I mean a professional attitude toward your writing dreams
– plonking down money to attend writing conferences, devoting time to a writing
routine, and learning as much as you can about the business of publishing. For years I thought I’d write when I had
more time, but the reality is no one ever has time to write first books. We are always busy with jobs and raising
kids and caring for parents and doing the dishes, and… We just have to recognize that NOW is the
time we have for writing. For me, that
meant getting up early at 5:30am before the kids woke up and writing 1- 1 ½ hours every day. It also meant paying for daycare so I could spend blocks of time
on writing.
I followed the traditional publishing path
to become an author. I spent 2-3 years
researching agents and the publishing process, took an online course on writing
book proposals, attended ASJA conferences in New York, and joined a writing
group. By the time the information
presented in conference sessions and magazine articles about finding an agent
began to feel repetitive and “old news,” I knew I was ready. I sent out 6 queries through the regular
slush pile and got 4 agents interested, so I was able to interview them and
choose one. That also told me I was
ready. I think a lot of authors jump
too fast and don’t spend time doing their homework.
What was your first published piece?
-Where was it published? -How long ago?
My first pieces were “freebie” magazine
stories. No pay, but publication. My first paid article was an essay about
worms in Organic Gardening back in
2000. I was so happy I blew all the money on a plane ticket to Paris. It was a great reward – to mark that
milestone.
I turned to writing books after magazines
cut back their freelancing budgets. My
first book It’s OK Not to Share…And Other
Renegade Rules for Raising Competent and Compassionate Kids was published
by Tarcher/ Penguin in 2012. I’ve been
promoting it ever since and my publisher has just asked for a sequel due out in
2015.
What did you do before embarking on your
writing career? Was it an asset to your writing? How?
My work was primarily in the nonprofit
world. I worked for 15 years with environmental groups doing land
conservation. I often think this
background was a tremendous asset because it made me realize how incredibly
busy editors and agents are. I always
felt busy and overworked at the nonprofits and guarded my time carefully. This background helped me develop
professional business skills and helped me approach agents and publishers
respectfully. My writing may be creative, but sharing it with the world follows
accepted rules of business courtesy.
Nothing new here, but many writers seem to think business can’t coexist
with the muse.
What inspires you?
My first book was a parenting book – a
renegade one that questions parenting conventions like automatic sharing,
saying ‘sorry’ when you don’t mean it, and limiting rough play. I also write children’s fiction and stories
about the environment. I’m inspired to
help those who can’t help themselves – that includes young children and the
environment. I think my own life expectancy inspires me; there are so many
books I want to write and only a limited time to create them.
Please share one of your successful author
platform building techniques
First, you write your book. Then you speak your book. I’ve found numerous speaking engagements,
which lead to more speaking engagements, and now invitations to headline
conferences and be the keynote speaker. But first I had to reach out to local
libraries, book clubs, and parent groups and speak for free or for a modest
honorarium. Also, produce quality work
and ideas. Then readers will promote it
for you because they get so excited about your book. My book was chosen as a Best
Parenting Book of 2012 by Parents
magazine’s Parents.com, and readers become strong fans.
Parting words
I offer book proposal coaching (for
nonfiction authors) and highly recommend working one-on-one with someone to
create your first proposal. Nonfiction is easier to break into than fiction, so
if you have an interest in both, try starting your publication path with the
nonfiction book idea.
Feel free to keep up with author news and
renegade parenting ideas through my
blog Starlighting Mama and website www.heathershumaker.com
where you can sign up for a free author newsletter. Links to popular blog posts include Why we say “No” to Homework and Throw Away your Timer: Why Kids Learn More
When They Don’t “Share.” Or by Facebook at Heather
Shumaker Writer.
Buy the book at any bookstore or
online. Plentiful reviews here.
It’s OK Not to Share…
Tired
of being the referee? Eager for new ideas to guide kids through wild
emotions and squabbles? “Renegade Parenting” breaks down age-old parenting
conventions through 29 renegade rules.
Based on the philosophy of an unorthodox Ohio preschool, this book
shares child development principles through a unique blend of forty years
on-the-ground experience with evidence from emerging neuroscience. Learn
counterintuitive ideas about sharing, saying ‘sorry,’ coping with angry
outbursts, rough play, social rejection, toy weapons and other topics. Be prepared to change your mind.
"An insightful, sensible and
compassionate book full of downright revolutionary ideas." –Salon.com
"Brilliant. . . . It's OK Not
to Share is an enlightening book that will make you take a second look at
everything you believe." –Parents.com
"Rarely do parenting books trigger
in me an exhale. But the title alone for Heather Shumaker’s new book came like
that rare August breeze." –The Washington Post "On
Parenting"
"Did you read the title and
think, what the heck? Me, too. Not only did I read it to figure out the
title, I underlined about a third–it's that good." –Melissa Taylor,
ImaginationSoup.net
Heather Shumaker is
the author of It’s OK Not to Share…And
Other Renegade Rules for Raising Competent and Compassionate Kids (Tarcher/
Penguin August 2012), named a Best Parenting
Book of 2012 by Parents magazine,
and regional bestseller. She’s a speaker, journalist, blogger and advocate for
free play and no homework for young children.
She’s been featured on Fox &
Friends TV, Huffington Post, New York Post, Parenting, Parents.com, USA Weekend, Wisconsin Public Radio and
other media. Heather is a graduate of
Swarthmore College (BA) and University of Wisconsin-Madison (MS) and the mother
of two young children.
