Romelia: CAN YOU DESCRIBE YOUR WRITING SPACE?
Yvette Phillips: I don’t have a special place. Sometimes it will be at my desk or sitting in my bed.
Romelia: HOW DO YOU HANDLE LITERARY CRITICISM?
Yvette Phillips: I haven’ t had any to deal with so far.
Romelia: WHAT IS THE MOST SURPRISING THING YOU DISCOVERED WHILE WRITING YOUR BOOK(S)?
Yvette Phillips: I realize that even if I begin to write with a blank mind, ideas starts to flow as soon as I begin to write.
Yvette Phillips: My favorite character is princess Alicia. She is special because she portrayed so much bravery when she decided to venture out into the dark woods. She was not afraid of anything that was lurking in the dark. Her only desire was to save her animal friends.
Romelia: HOW MANY BOOKS HAVE YOU WRITTEN? WHICH IS YOUR FAVORITE?
Yvette Phillips: I have written two books. A chapter book and an activity book. My favorite is the chapter book.
Romelia: IS IT EASIER TO WRITE A BOOK FOR CHILDREN OR AN ADULT BOOK?
Yvette Phillips: Yes it is so much better to appeal to the minds of kids versus adults.
Romelia: DOES ONE OF THE MAIN CHARACTERS HOLD A SPECIAL PLACE IN YOUR HEART? IF SO, WHY?
Romelia: WHAT IS THE KEY THEME AND/OR MESSAGE IN THE BOOK?
Yvette Phillips: My book speaks about bravery, love, forgiveness, perseverance and resilience.
Romelia: WHAT DO YOU HOPE YOUR READERS TAKE AWAY FROM THIS BOOK?
Yvette Phillips: I would like them to understand that no matter how difficult a situation may seem, the choice is never to give up.
Romelia: TELL US ABOUT THE PROCESS FOR COMING UP WITH THE COVER.
Yvette Phillips: The cover was designed by my illustrator. I told them what I wanted and I fell in love with the first cover draft.
Romelia: WHAT DO YOU LOVE MOST ABOUT WRITING STORIES FOR CHILDREN?
Yvette Phillips: Children have very imaginative minds and I believe I sometimes have a childlike mind and imagination.
Romelia: WHY DO YOU THINK IT IS IMPORTANT FOR CHILDREN TO DEVELOP A LOVE OF READING?
Yvette Phillips: I think it is important for children to develop a love for reading because their minds need to be developed. They don’t only learn by reading. However, this is a great way for them to control the pace at which their minds consume knowledge.
Romelia: DO YOU HAVE ANY ’’TOP TIPS’’ FOR PARENTS AND CARERS WHO WANT TO HELP CHILDREN DEVELOP A LOVE OF READING?
Yvette Phillips: Yes, begin reading to them from a young age. I actually started reading to my son when I was pregnant with him. He still loves to read.
Romelia: WHAT ARE YOUR HOPES AND DREAMS FOR THE FUTURE?
Yvette Phillips: I want to continue to write books and blogs. I love to encourage others. I’m an educator and I believe the Lord has placed me where he wants me to be.
Romelia: WHO IS YOUR FAVORITE CHILDREN’S AUTHOR AND WHY?
Yvette Phillips: Lewis Carroll- Alice in wonderland. I think that’s when I became fascinated with fairy tales.
Romelia: WHAT ADVICE DO YOU HAVE FOR CHILDREN WHO DREAM OF BECOMING AN AUTHOR OR ILLUSTRATOR?
Yvette Phillips: Go for it, don’t let anything prevent them from fulfilling their dreams. It helps to journal their thoughts. Think about what they want to write about and who they want the main character to represent.
Romelia: IF YOU COULD SPEND A DAY WITH ONE OF THE PRENDERPALS WHO WOULD IT BE AND WHY?
Yvette Phillips: I am not familiar with the Prenderpals. So I’m not able to answer honestly.
Romelia: TELL US ABOUT YOUR FIRST PUBLISHED BOOK. WHAT WAS THE JOURNEY LIKE?
Yvette Phillips: I began writing my book 9 years before it was completed and published. I would write a paragraph or a chapter every now and then. I didn’t really take the journey seriously until I got laid off from my job in November 2016. Two months after I got laid off I finished writing my story. A friend introduced me to my publisher and she had an illustrator who worked with me. I had an amazing book launched with the help of my business coach and my publisher.
Romelia: CAN YOU SHARE WITH US SOMETHING ABOUT THE BOOK THAT ISN’T IN THE BLURB?
Yvette Phillips: Yes, the book also shows how a child can get his or herself into a lot of trouble when they are disobedient. But it also shows that when you genuinely love someone you will try to defy all the odds to try and help them.
Romelia: DESCRIBE YOUR PERFECT BOOK HERO OR HEROINE.
Yvette Phillips: My perfect hero or heroine is someone who is genuine and kind.
Yvette Phillips: Ha Ha. I have so many on my mind right now. But the one I’m currently working on is about this young girl and the town she grew up in.
Romelia: DO YOU BELIEVE THE NEW GENERATION OF CHILDREN WILL LOVE TO READ OR SPEND MORE TIME ON THEIR PHONE?
Yvette Phillips: Because I’m an author, I’m hoping that they will want to read more. I also hope that when they are on their phones they will be reading digitally. I am seeing a lot of kids of this generation who prefer to be on their phones playing games instead of reading.
Romelia: WHAT BOOKS OR AUTHORS HAVE MOST INFLUENCED YOUR OWN WRITING?
Yvette Phillips: I love to read fairy tales books and I still love fairy tale movies, with prince and princesses. It doesn’t matter who the author is.
Romelia: WHAT WAS YOUR FAVORITE BOOK WHEN YOU WERE A KID?
Yvette Phillips: As a kid my favorite book was Nancy Drew and the hardy boys.
Romelia: IF YOU COULD ASK ONE SUCCESFUL AUTHOR THREE QUESTIONS ABOUT THEIR WRITING, WRITING PROCESS, OR BOOKS, WHAT WOULD THEY BE?
Yvette Phillips: 1. How do you stay focused?
2. What process did you use to promote you book/books?
3. How do you feel about writing different genres of books?
Romelia: WHAT DO YOU LIKE TO DO WHEN YOU ARE NOT WRITING?
Yvette Phillips: I am a mother first and foremost and I’m now in the process of helping my son prepare for college next year. I’m an educator and I also have my online business that constantly keeps me busy.
Romelia: WHAT DID YOU WANTED TO BE WHEN YOU GREW UP?
Yvette Phillips: I wanted to be a nurse. However, I soon found out that I would not be a good fit because I’m not able to deal with all the emotional responsibilities which was required.
Romelia: SHARE SOMETHING YOUR READERS WOULDN’T KNOW ABOUT YOU.
Yvette Phillips: I love to dance and sing.
Romelia: PLEASE DESCRIBE YOURSELF IN A FEW WORDS AND TELL US WHAT YOU HATE MOST ABOUT THE WORLD.
Yvette Phillips: I am a Christian and the first of eight children. I am a widow and the mother of one child. I am a basketball mom and love to travel. I hate the fact that I’m not able to permanently fix all of the problems in this world.