Meet Lynn Darby, Author of Tucker the Tricky Green Tractor, The Story of the Knock on Wood Shamrocks and other stories
What inspired you to become an author?
I always told stories to my siblings at bedtime to keep their imaginations perked. I loved English and wrote creative articles and mostly saw many inanimate objects come to life in my imagination. I shared this gift with my sister, Judy. Life went on and my creative outlet was my 4 children with my husband. Then in 1984, a neighbor saw something in my drawings and encouraged me to pay attention to how differently I see everyday things, and go on and keep developing them, and showed me how get everything copyrighted. One day I looked at my long carpel tunnel scar, wrist, and curled my knuckles then photocopied it. I turned it into tree bark and then there was the TREE from my own forearm and fist. That's when the first story began in 1984 about why we Knock On Wood. I continued gathering ideas here and there for it part time only. It was not completed in the least and I knew one day I would tie it all together. So it got put away. Full time work and a family of 4 sons kept me and my husband hopping. They went on to college. Then the internet came along wherein I created little scrolling stories of inspiration which in small ways, always kept my imaginative skill alive and poetic pages were made and passed along to friends. I had a newspaper column for a few years in a local "Neighborhood News" space. I felt destiny was pulling me towards something all the time. It's something you just know you were meant to do.
More and more stories were developed, were put away for family only and illustrations were archived, conclusions still failed me and I let time go on. To me it was like picking up skeins of different colors of wool, but instead using "words" that I would weave together one day. When more answers to life's teachings came to me, they were archived also, as I stuffed each tidbit into each story. The writings would be where I wanted to expound and help to conclude each story.
A bad car accident sent me through 3 spinal surgeries and I retired at age 55 still in recovery on and off for another 10 yrs. Now we are up to the year 2010 and I had a quadruple bypass surgery of my heart. This clearly showed me Life was short. All those friends who read my stories came to mind and how they always sternly admonished me to do..."You better get those stories published!" It was just play for me. How could I ever become an author? I did not think I was capable of doing it, but then awaking from anesthesia and a new working heart...I looked towards heaven and while weeping, happy to be alive...and promised the great Gift Giver to us all: "God if you made it possible and you definitely want me around to finish my work, I promise to take the gift you gave me and share it with the world. No MORE HOLDING BACK and NO MORE DELAYS!" After recovery, I read everything and any book on the subject of publishing your own book with resources, etc...what format to use, etc. Beware of the book publishing package systems at first, because you could blow a lot of money on one book. I had a shoestring budget. I was going to do it Grass Roots style. So now, I had friends who told me that they would help me with proof reading. Bless their hearts! The Shamrock story was inspiring to them so they came on board to help. I gave each one a copy of the book in gratitude! The proofreading took the longest time with over 8 people, mind you. What I did as a giggle and tip of the hat to all these friends was to carefully place their initials in a graphic rendition of a piece of wooden bark. You will need a magnifying glass to see it. But they are all there, permanently! The next book was easier. I had the equipment in my artistic play room to print paper sheets on 18 x 12 capacity wide printer and printed the book cover and learned.
How many books have you written?
There are two completely copyrighted published children's books at this time: The Story of the Knock On Wood Shamrocks original 9 to 12 yr old and Pre-K to 2nd grade level. Tucker the Tricky Green Tractor pre K to 2nd grade. I am working on my 3rd book fully, called Hanger? Oh Hanger? Please Come! and overlapping with It's Bright Eyes...the Too Tall Cupcake. Presently, those 6 story books' front covers are on display at Hickman's Crossroads Library in Calabash for the entire month of October, 2012. As far as which one will be the 5th -7th ones to get completed: the answer depends on which is stronger in my mind when I get a visual puzzle part to insert. Each book will get its full story and that is why I have assigned each title its own Facebook page. Yes, there are more beyond those 6 titles that are listed inside each book's front pages. Look for their pages on Facebook and you may ask to be put on a waiting list and notified when they are published.
Find out more about my books by visiting their Facebook pages:
The story of The Knock On Wood Shamrocks (tm) https://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/The-Knock-On-Wood-Shamrocks-Story/215752108445264
Tucker the Tricky Green Tractor
https://www.facebook.com/#!/TuckerTheTrickyGreenTractor
What do you think readers will enjoy most about your books?
What is different about the books I write is that so far, each entire book is hand crafted and published with quality fade resistant pigment ink. I like working with smaller book stores and Etsy for now. I want to get the books out in this personal handcrafted way first, before I go on to the next step of mass printing distribution, and then on to and E-Book format. I am researching E-book conversion now. Stay tuned. Special keepsakes and a corresponding book mark with a little antique charm, come along with each story. It comes sealed in a pouch, signed by the author. I looked back to my hero, Ben Franklin, and saw that he had his own press and printed his own books, too. So that was the way I would create my books. Always with the special touches the reader will come to enjoy.
What advice would you give to a new author trying to get their book published?
First, be sure no one else has your book title by checking on line at the copyright office. www.copyright.gov. Search for titles. Then when you are ready to publish, gather information for all options. Depending on whether or not you have the funds to go all in or not, remember that spell check will not work in all cases, so do read and re-read your work before printing and have others do the same. Read your story in reverse (starting from the last page first). Read the story to a child, Join groups for writers such as Fundsforwriters.com. I joined the SCBWI which is the Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators. I subscribed to their magazine. Get to see what is going on in the business. Realize it takes quite a long time to bring your story to completion and be printed. Start small. Never give up. Accept your friends' offer to help and soon you will be on your own.
Are you currently working on other books?
Yes. Look for their pages on Facebook and you may ask to be put on a waiting list and notified when they are published.
Hanger? Oh Hanger? Please Come!
https://www.facebook.com/HangerOhHangerPleaseCome?ref=ts
It's Bright Eyes - The Too Tall Cupcake
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Its-Bright-Eyes-the-Too-Tall-Cupcake-tm/325688097507776?ref=hl
My other titles are: The Legend of the Unfortunate Cookies, Sky Renter and the trouble with the Screaming Icy Cone, and How the Wooden Spoon turned into the Star Stirrer. There are 3 others for which I have to complete, but will find those titles inside the cover of my published books.
If you would like to purchase any of Lynn Darby's books please visit her only store www.etsy.com/shop/baycrestpublishing
I always told stories to my siblings at bedtime to keep their imaginations perked. I loved English and wrote creative articles and mostly saw many inanimate objects come to life in my imagination. I shared this gift with my sister, Judy. Life went on and my creative outlet was my 4 children with my husband. Then in 1984, a neighbor saw something in my drawings and encouraged me to pay attention to how differently I see everyday things, and go on and keep developing them, and showed me how get everything copyrighted. One day I looked at my long carpel tunnel scar, wrist, and curled my knuckles then photocopied it. I turned it into tree bark and then there was the TREE from my own forearm and fist. That's when the first story began in 1984 about why we Knock On Wood. I continued gathering ideas here and there for it part time only. It was not completed in the least and I knew one day I would tie it all together. So it got put away. Full time work and a family of 4 sons kept me and my husband hopping. They went on to college. Then the internet came along wherein I created little scrolling stories of inspiration which in small ways, always kept my imaginative skill alive and poetic pages were made and passed along to friends. I had a newspaper column for a few years in a local "Neighborhood News" space. I felt destiny was pulling me towards something all the time. It's something you just know you were meant to do.
More and more stories were developed, were put away for family only and illustrations were archived, conclusions still failed me and I let time go on. To me it was like picking up skeins of different colors of wool, but instead using "words" that I would weave together one day. When more answers to life's teachings came to me, they were archived also, as I stuffed each tidbit into each story. The writings would be where I wanted to expound and help to conclude each story.
A bad car accident sent me through 3 spinal surgeries and I retired at age 55 still in recovery on and off for another 10 yrs. Now we are up to the year 2010 and I had a quadruple bypass surgery of my heart. This clearly showed me Life was short. All those friends who read my stories came to mind and how they always sternly admonished me to do..."You better get those stories published!" It was just play for me. How could I ever become an author? I did not think I was capable of doing it, but then awaking from anesthesia and a new working heart...I looked towards heaven and while weeping, happy to be alive...and promised the great Gift Giver to us all: "God if you made it possible and you definitely want me around to finish my work, I promise to take the gift you gave me and share it with the world. No MORE HOLDING BACK and NO MORE DELAYS!" After recovery, I read everything and any book on the subject of publishing your own book with resources, etc...what format to use, etc. Beware of the book publishing package systems at first, because you could blow a lot of money on one book. I had a shoestring budget. I was going to do it Grass Roots style. So now, I had friends who told me that they would help me with proof reading. Bless their hearts! The Shamrock story was inspiring to them so they came on board to help. I gave each one a copy of the book in gratitude! The proofreading took the longest time with over 8 people, mind you. What I did as a giggle and tip of the hat to all these friends was to carefully place their initials in a graphic rendition of a piece of wooden bark. You will need a magnifying glass to see it. But they are all there, permanently! The next book was easier. I had the equipment in my artistic play room to print paper sheets on 18 x 12 capacity wide printer and printed the book cover and learned.
How many books have you written?
There are two completely copyrighted published children's books at this time: The Story of the Knock On Wood Shamrocks original 9 to 12 yr old and Pre-K to 2nd grade level. Tucker the Tricky Green Tractor pre K to 2nd grade. I am working on my 3rd book fully, called Hanger? Oh Hanger? Please Come! and overlapping with It's Bright Eyes...the Too Tall Cupcake. Presently, those 6 story books' front covers are on display at Hickman's Crossroads Library in Calabash for the entire month of October, 2012. As far as which one will be the 5th -7th ones to get completed: the answer depends on which is stronger in my mind when I get a visual puzzle part to insert. Each book will get its full story and that is why I have assigned each title its own Facebook page. Yes, there are more beyond those 6 titles that are listed inside each book's front pages. Look for their pages on Facebook and you may ask to be put on a waiting list and notified when they are published.
Find out more about my books by visiting their Facebook pages:
The story of The Knock On Wood Shamrocks (tm) https://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/The-Knock-On-Wood-Shamrocks-Story/215752108445264
Tucker the Tricky Green Tractor
https://www.facebook.com/#!/TuckerTheTrickyGreenTractor
What do you think readers will enjoy most about your books?
What is different about the books I write is that so far, each entire book is hand crafted and published with quality fade resistant pigment ink. I like working with smaller book stores and Etsy for now. I want to get the books out in this personal handcrafted way first, before I go on to the next step of mass printing distribution, and then on to and E-Book format. I am researching E-book conversion now. Stay tuned. Special keepsakes and a corresponding book mark with a little antique charm, come along with each story. It comes sealed in a pouch, signed by the author. I looked back to my hero, Ben Franklin, and saw that he had his own press and printed his own books, too. So that was the way I would create my books. Always with the special touches the reader will come to enjoy.
What advice would you give to a new author trying to get their book published?
First, be sure no one else has your book title by checking on line at the copyright office. www.copyright.gov. Search for titles. Then when you are ready to publish, gather information for all options. Depending on whether or not you have the funds to go all in or not, remember that spell check will not work in all cases, so do read and re-read your work before printing and have others do the same. Read your story in reverse (starting from the last page first). Read the story to a child, Join groups for writers such as Fundsforwriters.com. I joined the SCBWI which is the Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators. I subscribed to their magazine. Get to see what is going on in the business. Realize it takes quite a long time to bring your story to completion and be printed. Start small. Never give up. Accept your friends' offer to help and soon you will be on your own.
Are you currently working on other books?
Yes. Look for their pages on Facebook and you may ask to be put on a waiting list and notified when they are published.
Hanger? Oh Hanger? Please Come!
https://www.facebook.com/HangerOhHangerPleaseCome?ref=ts
It's Bright Eyes - The Too Tall Cupcake
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Its-Bright-Eyes-the-Too-Tall-Cupcake-tm/325688097507776?ref=hl
My other titles are: The Legend of the Unfortunate Cookies, Sky Renter and the trouble with the Screaming Icy Cone, and How the Wooden Spoon turned into the Star Stirrer. There are 3 others for which I have to complete, but will find those titles inside the cover of my published books.
If you would like to purchase any of Lynn Darby's books please visit her only store www.etsy.com/shop/baycrestpublishing
Stacie Theis / beachboundbooks@yahoo.com / copyright 2012