What was my inspiration for writing Dread the FRED?

Paperback Press CEO
Sharon Kizziah Holmes

Ashley DiFonzo, Conway high school student reporter for the Conway Chronicles posed a series of questions for me, the author of DREAD THE FRED YA nonfiction book. Her first question is the most important.

Q/A with Dr. Joyce Ragland, author of DREAD THE FRED nonfiction book:

1.    What was your inspiration in writing this book?

The short answer is to recognize the accomplishments of those involved in CHS’ Robotics Club. An academic event win at a national competition is huge for any high school and quadruple times so for a rural, poor school! 

book launch

The answer continued: As I interviewed more and more people, my inspiration included a broader goal of telling the back story as well as the immediate story. That is, I learned that the team of male drivers of the robot could not have entered the BEST competitions without the mock corporation and that was mostly done by the girls in the club. Students in the Robotics Club developed required t-shirts, the web site, the notebook, the table display, did fund-raising, and made up the Spirit Team –all important to the story – about thirty students. Moreover, they did the activities after school and on weekends. The book tells more than just building and competing with the robot, it includes the problems of raising the money needed all during the year, some gender differences in Club roles, competition for resources with other activities the community traditionally supports, dominance of robotics events by wealthy private and large public schools, a love story – and more.

Challenges, Successes, Transitions

laughing/crying

My three-year term as the RA (Regional Advisor) for the SCBWI-Missouri chapter ends, I'm relieved, elated, and wistful. The appointment opportunity came at a time when I was fighting for dignity during a divorce where my now-ex tried to batter my sense of self, my personhood, and my emotions. He tried, but did not succeed. Being the SCBWI-MO RA gave me the opportunity to focus my energy into something positive. I now have three successful conferences behind me, many new friends, many new acquaintances, and a greater support system than I'd envisioned.

I am relieved to have the difficult parts of the position over, but glad that I succeeded despite obstacles.

I am elated to now have my creative nonfiction YA book, DREAD THE FRED in publication and thank SCBWI for the opportunity to learn from the best authors and editors in publishing.

I am wistful that the RA gig is ending, just as I've kinda sorta figured out the thing.  But my hand-picked Assistant is going to carry the torch to new heights and will probably invent a new torch while she's at it. Carry on Kimberly Ann Piddington, with my blessings and support - if needed.

We laughed, sniffled, got books autographed, learned from the best of the best, ate St. Louis Gooey Butter Cake, dined on great Italian (as only St. Louis can do) food and left the conference as friends, colleagues, inspired writers and illustrators.

SCBWI-MO collage by Peggy Archer

Joyce, in final SCBWI-MO conference RA mode

A new year resolution as of 19 November, 2013

All of a sudden the year is almost over and I've not prioritized time for my blog. My bad. This will change. I am making my new year resolution to precede my DREAD THE FRED book launch scheduled for 23 November, 2013.  Blame for lack of posting:

• fear of blogging:  Yes, I fear that my posts will not be as interesting as the competition so I've been the shy one.  
• priority given to others: As the RA for SCBWI-Missouri, I've spent more time attending to others' concerns than my own
• throes of editing DREAD THE FRED:  That has caused brain lockup on many occasions, and the un-lock is thanks to Sharon Kizziah Holmes and her hybrid publishing company, Paperback Press
• my NFP work:  Sadly, I'm blaming my Ella Art Company charity, altho it hasn't received as much quality time as needed to raise funds for my local Alzheimer's projects.  But I've affiliated with the Community Foundation of the Ozarks, set up a GoFundMe campaign, and have a fund-raiser going this month in Lebanon, MO. Guilt over for that.
• knee surgery in May: the effects of painkillers are nasty; can't imagine why some get addicted to that stuff so I got off asap and that made me a poster child for knee surgery in Springfield, MO. At least within Dr. Mahnken's office.
• laziness:  or situational depression, which loops back to throes of book manuscript editing ...but that is over so happy face here.

And on with the show, otherwise knows as The Book Launch for DREAD THE FRED!

SCBWI-MO 2012 Fall Conference

Joyce speaking as SCBWI-MO Regional Advisor:

 After an agonizing week where Frankenstorm Sandy made it look like none of the speakers from NY City would make it, all but one, our agent, made it to St. Louis.  

We had a great conference November 3 with keynoters Ellen Hopkns (YA author), Emma Dryden (Editor), David Harrison (PG, MG, YA author) and Will Terry (Illustrator).  The breakout session by a trio of SCBWI-MO authors - Nancy Polette, Cheryl Harness, and Ann Ingalls - as well as all other sessions - received excellent evaluations as did our new location at Lindenwood University in St. Charles.  Well worth all the time and efforts to create the conference.  Next year, we hope that literary agent Regina Brooks joins us.

Special thanks to Assistant Regional Advisor Kim Piddington, webmaster Janet Lloyd Weber, and RA Emeritus Sue Bradford Edwards. 

Photos from top right: 

Joyce Ragland, Joyce with Emma Dryden (center) and Kim Pidington, David Harrison delivering keynote address, Emma Dryden (left) and Ellen Hopkins (right) talking at break with author Shannon Moore, conference large group snapshot

Catching Up!

Sometimes I find that I am juggling too many projects/ideas/deadlines and have to stand back, take time to think and prioritize.  I have writing projects that are a must - I have to tell this story - and others that are good ideas, but not in the forefront but maybe should be.  For my nonprofit venture, the Ella Ragland Art 501 (c ) (3) company, I've had a web site and blog/journal built in and haven't done much with either, thus I decided to condense that activity with this one.  For one thing, it is much easier to revise/add/delete this blog than the web site, which required a web master with more expertise than mine.  This blog, I can do solo and there's great advantages there. So this is now a blended site.  I'll post activities about the NFP, and about my SCBWI-MO Regional Advisor activities.  Feels right.  Seems logical, and necessary.

The photo shows Vicki Bennett on left, who does a music project for my Alzheimer's NFP, and who is also a writer.  I'm on the right, smiling after a great night's sleep in St. Charles following our fab fall conference.

Talking about writing and illustrating with Quinlan Lee of Adams Literary on my right and Katie Wools, Illustrator Coordinator for MoSCBWI.

The current dilemma is whether to continue a nonfiction manuscript, which gave me fits for months because I kept writing like a  professor.  Translation:  BORING.   My critique group spoke more kindly than that, but that's the gist of the thing.  Or, I can fictionalize the story as suggested by Heather Alexander of Dial Books for Young Readers.

When I experiment with fictionalizing the story, the dialog flows.  It is fun to write.  The story arc remains the same but with much more action and more about the characters.  All I need is to keep the language appropriate for today's YA audience.  That's all.

Easy, right? 

SCBWI-Missouri conference for writers and illustrators

Our Keynote Speakers Saturday November 5, 2011 were author Suzanne Morgan Williams, agent Quinlan Lee, editor Heather Alexander, and illustrator Rich Davis.  Super faculty.  I can not find enough positive adjectives and adverbs for these amazing, talented, brilliant professionals.   
November 5^th was my first conference as Missouri RA (Regional Advisor), the first for Assistant RA Janet Lloyd Weber, and the first for IC (Illustrator Coordinator) Katie Wools.  Thankfully, we had RAEmeritus Sue Bradford Edwards for consultation throughout the conference.  Janet and I live in Springfield and we had conference helpers from around the state, with the metro St. Louis area contributing the most (locals).  All of us involved in SCBWI-Missouri leadership roles are volunteers.  The collegiality is priceless!
My critique from Heather Alexander of Dial Books for Young Readers provides new levels of thought, new challenges, but perhaps more opportunities.  She suggested that I think about fictionalizing my book about the Conway High Robotics Club and their national championship with Fred, the robot.  Hmmmm