Shelley Pearsall
Children's Book Author
USA and England
Your Questions & Shelley's Answers
What advice would you give to aspiring young writers?
Write. Write. Write. It sounds very basic, but it's the only way to learn the craft. Put away the technology and observe, eavesdrop, and daydream instead. Reject the use of AI in your writing and create for yourself. Choose ideas that interest you. Read books you love and use them for writing inspiration. Tune out the doubters who question your talents or your dreams. Find a writing friend. And remember that you don't have to finish every story you start...
Interested in writing contests and opportunities? Check out The Young Writers' Project.
How Did You
Get Started As A Writer?
In first grade, my teacher suggested writing a story for her on the back of a math worksheet when I finished early. Of course, this meant I became much better at writing stories than at doing math...
In seventh grade, I submitted my first "book" to a New York City publisher. It was 37 pages, handwritten. Although the manuscript was rejected, a famous editor named Jean Karl sent a letter encouraging me to keep writing. You can see it here!
At age 33, my first novel "Trouble Don't Last" was accepted for publication.
What Are Your Favorite Books?
Holes by Louis Sachar
Wonder by RJ Palacio
Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets by JK Rowling
Out of the Dust by Karen Hesse
The Watsons Go To Birmingham by Christopher Paul Curtis
Moonbird by Philip Hoose
Stargirl by Jerry Spinelli
A Single Shard by Linda Sue Park
Isle of Mull, Scotland
What Do You Like to Do for Fun?
I love traveling and being awed by the beauty in nature. We must protect this beautiful blue orb we live on.
Photographing rainbows, visiting wild places, reading good books, sitting in cafes, swimming, painting, walking my dog, listening to local bands, watching a theater show -- that's a short list of some of my favorite things.
Why Did You Move to England?
After living in Ohio for more than fifty years, I wanted a change of scenery and new writing inspiration. (And my husband Mike just happens to be British...) So we decided to have a GRAND ADVENTURE and relocate to the UK in 2023.
We lived in rural Scotland first (cue the bagpipes...). Just recently, we moved to northern England. Our house is near the world-famous Hadrian's Wall and Vindolanda Roman fort where they are still digging for buried treasures from nearly 2,000 years ago. As a writer, I find it so exciting to be surrounded by all of these ancient stories and places...you never know what you'll find.
What I don't love...it definitely rains a lot here!