A Kid's Herb Book: For Children of All Ages By Lesley Tierra

9/26/2020

Multi-volume author and renowned herbalist, Lesley Tierra introduces us to her book “A Kid’s Herb Book: For Children of All Ages”:
A Kid’s Herb Book makes learning about herbs and plants fun and educational for children. They follow the friendly elf, Mr. Greenleaf, through the plant “kin-dom.” They learn various uses of plants and they learn to appreciate vital things that plants provide, such as oxygen, food, soap, wood, teas, and medicines. They will discover the differences between herbs, weeds, and spices. They learn to make products from herbs, such as natural toothbrushes and homemade cough medicine. They learn about the healing properties of specific herbs. And they learn enchanting stories that can be read aloud and that awaken the imagination.
A Kid’s Herb Book includes delicious recipes for such culinary delights as “Basil Pesto” and “Rose Petal Jam.” Children and their parents are encouraged to grow their own herb gardens. Simple instructions are provided for outdoor gardens (when space is available) to smaller gardens (using a window box, a basket, or even a flowerpot!). To go completely natural, readers can learn to make and use compost as well.

What a marvelous and fun book! I enjoyed this book so much. It truly is written for children of all ages. The writing style is winsome and easy to read for almost any average skill level fifth or sixth grade reader and above.
The black-and-white line drawing invite you to color them in and own the book. The page layout and fonts keep the information flowing in an easy-to-understand fashion. The creation-of-the-herb stories are fun and invite discussions between parent and child about important issues and character traits. There are recipes, songs and care guides that extend the reading experience and solidify the knowledge imparted.
This is such an excellent and well-written book; it easily deserves to be awarded 5 stars!

You can buy this book:
https://rdrpublishers.com/a-kid-s-herb-book-for-children-of-all-ages-by-lesley-tierra
https://amazon.com/Kids-Herb-Book-Children-Ages-paperback
https://www.goodreads.com/A_Kid_s_Herb_Book

You can follow the author:
https://twitter.com/east_west_herbs
https://planetherbs.com
https://www.facebook.com/lesley.tierra#
Copyright © 2020 Mark L. Schultz except for the author’s introduction.

62 Comments

Lesley Tierra link

9/26/2020 11:23:24 am

What a wonderful review. My goal for writing A Kids Herb Book was to get many people, especially children, involved in the world of herbs and their myriad fantastic uses. Your review will help them do just that! Thank you -

Mark Schultz

9/27/2020 07:01:48 am

Welcome to wordrefiner.com.
I am glad I could assist you in this way.
First question.
Please, tell us more about yourself. Perhaps something a little bit beyond your bio.

9/27/2020 07:02:32 am

Thanks again.

9/27/2020 09:02:20 am

I first learned about herbs in my late twenties after leaving a budding career in big business. Since then, I have discovered that herbs are not only wonderful healers but also a way of life.

Mark

9/27/2020 10:17:40 am

Herbs and other healing arts became your business.
New questions.
Are you a full-time or part-time writer?
Are you in the writing business for love of writing or for money?

9/27/2020 11:43:24 am

Oh gosh I am definitely a writer because I love it! I can't help but write. I actually started writing my first fiction piece when I was about seven years old. I am not a part-time writer because I oversee our herbal distance learning course and school, The East West School of Planetary Herbology, plus our acupuncture and herb clinic, The East West Acupuncture Clinic, where I practice with my husband, Michael. But I would love to rite full time!

9/27/2020 02:14:37 pm

That is wonderful that you want to write so much. I knew you were busy with all of the businesses. You do have a lot on your plate.
I have thought about writing fiction, but I don't feel a strong urge to do so. I have learned so much over the years, I could probably write a decent book. But I probably won't.
I am writing a small book about how to thrive on Twitter for writers. I have made almost every possible mistake, so If I can save another person from a few common mistakes everybody will be happier.
New questions.
Who designed the cover of your book? Feel free to drop a link if appropriate.
What do the elements on the cover represent?

9/27/2020 03:55:07 pm

Oh I'll bet you could write even more useful books for writers. Word refining is key to all writers. I hope you do so!
To answer your questions, Susie Wilson illustrated the cover of A Kid's Herb Book AND she did all the wonderful inside illustrations as well.
The elements on the front cover include different types of preparations taught in the book along with a few common herbs especially good for children. For example, there's garlic, fennel, elderberry, plantain, and cayenne.

9/27/2020 04:06:58 pm

Thanks for the vote of confidence. There are a lot of talented editors out there and quite a few have written about editing. A lot of great blogs have been written also, I have links to a number of them on my Highly Regarded Blogs page. If I wrote a book like that, it would take away time from proofreading, which I love doing. I have written quite a few blogs about spelling issues caused by homophones and typographical errors, I doubt if I will write a book.
If Susie has a website feel free to share the link here. I love her illustrations in the book, they beg to be colored.
New questions.
Was it hard to come up with the title? What was the process?
Were the character names difficult to develop? How did you choose them?

9/28/2020 10:03:49 am

I am tracking Susie's website down - I agree, her illustrations are fabulous.
The title, A Kid's Herb Book, was not hard for me to come up with because it simply describes what it is - an herb book for kids (of all ages, of course!). In terms of the character names, they just pop into my head when I'm writing. I find that when I'm in a creative mode, a door opens to all sorts of information the logical mind doesn't know is there.

9/28/2020 11:49:08 am

The title is self-explanatory, no question.
Names can be a different matter. Some authors go to great lengths for character names in their books, especially for a story set in a particular moment of history. the names need to be authentic for the period.
The creative mood, or muse, as many authors call it, can bring wonderful things to the story. Not the least of which are names.
Many of the stories read like one of Aesop's fables, with a clear and compelling moral theme. I enjoyed them quite a bit.
New questions.
What other books and genres have you written?
Have you entered any writing contests?
Have you won awards of any kind for your writing?

9/28/2020 03:06:29 pm

I've written several other books: The Herbs of Life (Crossing Press 1992), Healing with Chinese Herbs (Crossing Press, 1997, also published in India, 2016), A Kids Herb Book (R.D. Reed, 2000, also published in Japan and Estonia), Healing with the Herbs of Life (Crossing Press, 2003), and Metaphor-phosis (Balboa Press, 2012). I also collaborated with my husband, Michael, to found the East West School of Planetary Herbology with its course books I helped write (nearly 2200 pages), which has over 10,000 students worldwide, and co-authored with him, Chinese Traditional Herbal Medicine Vol I & II (Lotus Press, 1998).

9/28/2020 03:32:14 pm

You have written quite a bit. You know a lot about herbs. Can you recommend a good field guide for the Pacific Northwest? My family has a tree farm way out there, there is no cell service. I think I recognized quite a few plants in your book.
New questions.
You have quite a few non-fiction books to your credit.
Are you going to write more?
Have you thought about writing fiction short stories or a novel?
What genre do you think you would start with?

9/28/2020 03:35:34 pm

I do have more non-fiction books in the works, some for over twenty years. Will they get done? I've also been writing my first work of fiction, a trilogy for middle grade-young adult that's been in the works for over twenty-five years now! Writing non-fiction is entirely different than fiction so I'm having to learn that craft as I go along, but it's fun!

9/28/2020 04:17:10 pm

I think you know a great deal about writing non-fiction. You are correct about that being very different from writing fiction. Some of my articles on my Guest Posts page might be helpful, plus there are a lot of blog links on my Highly Regarded Blogs page that you may find useful.
The middle grade category is an interesting phase of life for the kids and the adults around them.
You will find a vibrant community of writers on Twitter, plus you find it useful to subscribe to a few author newsletters who write in that category.
New questions.
Why did you decide to not publish this book in an e-book format?
Have you ever gone through the query process, seeking an agent or submitting directly to publishers or did you go straight to indie publishing or self-publishing, and why?

9/28/2020 06:09:38 pm

I'm thrilled to know abut your resources. The services you offer are incredibly useful for authors, so thank for those. And I appreciate your recommendations, too.
I published A Kids Herb Book in 2000 and there wasn't an e-format available then that I'm aware of.
For my very first book, The Herbs of Life, I walked into the publishers, explained my project ,and they immediately said they'd publish. My second book, Healing With Chinese Herb,s that same publisher asked me to write. Healing With the Herbs of Life is a combination and update of those two prior books, also requested from the publisher. Metaphor-phosis I self-published through Hay House as a companion book to Healing With the Herbs of Life focusing on emotional, mental, and spiritual healing. The publisher for A Kids Herb Book, Robert D Reed, I discovered through a mutual friend and they picked it up immediately. The books with my husband were published through a publisher he had already worked with. Whew, that's a lot of books i realize!

9/28/2020 07:07:08 pm

You almost had publishers knocking on your door. Writing in a well-defined niche and finding the right publisher can make a lot of difference.
I hope you are sitting down. Many authors, who are submitting to traditional publishers, are never able to connect and get their book published, until they turn to indie publishers. Some have made more than 100 submissions and come up empty.
Another client of mine with several cozy murders available queried the fifth book. She had one response out of dozens, that agent wanted her to rewrite the book so it wasn't part of a series. Don't ask me why. She agreed and asked a few questions and didn't hear back from the agent, so she self-published again. She is doing well.
New questions.
Have you thought about publishing this book in an e-book format or an audio book? The audio book could be helpful for those with serious vision issues.
What are the three most important considerations for an independent author to be certain of when signing a contract with an independent or hybrid publisher?

9/29/2020 04:47:30 pm

The publishing industry was very different thirty years ago, as industries were for all the arts. That was both a good thing - less work for the artist and more promotion - and a bad thing - it wasn't even possible yet to self-publish, or very rare.
A Kids Herb Book came out twenty years ago and the e-book format wasn't available then. I have thought a little of doing that and it would work since the book is very visual. It wouldn't come across as well in an auditory format. Still, I'm open to doing both.
It's been so long since i've signed a publishing contract so I can't really give a good response to your second question, sorry!

9/29/2020 05:12:49 pm

The first edition of the Kids Herb Book is still listed on Amazon, with a similar but brighter cover.
You are quite right, the entire publishing industry has undergone a cataclysmic change, thanks to that little upstart from so many years ago, Amazon.com. The Zon has wiped out most of the publishing industry, there are now only a handful, count them on one hand, of major, traditional publishers. There will always be a few traditional publishers, but the ranks have dwindled to such a small number, they are now just a flea on the tail of a dog. Their profit margins are so slim, they can't afford to take a chance on an unknown author very often.
I always encourage an author to get a lawyer familiar with intellectual property rights and licensing creative property. Only by protecting those can an author have much hope of long term stability and success.
New questions.
If a new writer asked you for one piece of advice to be a good writer what would you say?
Is using Twitter and other social media part of your marketing strategy?

9/29/2020 07:08:25 pm

Advice to be a good write: for non fiction - write what you know. I think over all for writing, the fewer words, the better. Too many words can interfere with action and even descriptions.

I have not used Twitter at all and only Facebook irregularly for marketing. However, our school, the East West School of Planetary Herbology, teaches herbal healing from traditions around the world and does use social media.

9/29/2020 07:48:35 pm

That is good advice, shared by many different authors over the years. Most books can benefit from an economical use of words. Every word on the page should have to earn its place. If a word doesn't move the story forward it should be removed.
Some people have found success with ads on Facebook, Amazon, Bookbub and others. But many haven't also. It's not an easy thing. Many blogs have been written on these topics and research is necessary to achieve good results. None of this is set it and forget it, ads require monitoring and adjustments as needed for optimum results.
I am glad your school is doing well on social media.
New questions.
What is your publisher doing, if anything, to market your book?
How do you think your book compares to a book published by a major publisher?

9/29/2020 08:14:32 pm

It's so true that every word should have it's place or go. That means lots of editing, which a writer has to love doing or else hire someone.
My publisher has done various advertisements in the past and currently brought you in to highlight my book - that's wonderful advertising, thank you!
Major publishers still spend lots on advertising plus sponsor book tours, although not during COVID and far less than in the past. And of course many use social media now as well. However, as you said earlier, only a select few authors have a major publisher today so most writers have to do their own promotion.

9/30/2020 08:32:57 am

Self-editing is difficult for a lot of writers. It requires a certain mental rigor. Our brains will lie to us when we are in the proofreading phase of editing. There are many ways to trick our brain into letting us see what is actually on the page. Putting the manuscript away for a week or three is useful for a lot of authors. Changing the font and color of the font helps a lot of writers. Reading the book aloud is another way, because it engages more than one sense. Reading the book backwards can also help.
Having beta readers provide feedback after the second or third draft is very useful, because fresh eyes are important.
After four or five drafts, an editor will provide a big boost and lots of rewriting. Another draft or two then it's time for the proofreader.
Major publishers do spend a lot of money to promote the work of a well known author, medium list authors get a little bit of promotional love. A new author? They are on their own for promotion and marketing. A traditional publisher will spend the least amount of money possible for the work of an unknown author. Many new, traditionally published authors have reported this over and over. At this Covid time, bookstore signings and readings are a thing of the past. Outdoor events, such as fairs and farmers markets are still possible. Many events have gone virtual, which presents problems for the casual wanderer. There are many other ways to market a book, hundreds of blogs have been written on this topic. There are several on the Guest Blogs page and links to many dozens on the Highly Regarded Blogs page on my website.
New questions.
There are many unethical practices in publishing, which one is the most unbearable in your mind?
Do you have a favorite book by another author or just favorite authors?

9/30/2020 09:07:20 am

Those are great self-editing tips, Mark. I also put the manuscript away for two-three weeks or even longer, which I find enormously helpful. Reading the book aloud I think is essential. I've never tried changing the font and color, interesting. I do know about reading the book backwards as my professional pianist son teaches that technique for learning piano.
You suggest great ideas for marketing on your website; I will definitely be perusing your site much more!
I have to say I am naive about unethical practices in publishing so I can't comment on that. In terms of favorite authors, I have many and am always discovering more. They are most all in the fiction realm. One of my favorites who comes instantly to mind is Jodi Picoult.

9/30/2020 09:30:05 am

You are welcome, I have learned a lot from reading blogs and these interviews with authors. I have tried to make my website a resource for writers.
Your son's technique for teaching piano is interesting. Can you explain that a little bit more? Playing a musical piece backwards?
New questions.
Did you have a favorite book as a child?
Which of your books is your favorite, and why?

9/30/2020 09:51:26 am

My son, Chetan Tierra, (https://www.chetantierra.com) has developed and learned all sorts of techniques to develop piano skills to the highest level as demonstrated by being in such world competitions as the Queen Elizabeth and Van Cliburn and being a Yamaha Artist (I can't help but brag!). He's developing online courses to teach exactly such skills.
Starting backward in music means when practicing, playing the last two measures until perfect, then playing the two measures before that till perfect, and so on from back to front. Most people when playing an instrument, and frankly this may go for writing as well, start from the beginning over and over and get sloppier towards the end. This breaks that habit.
Favorite book as a child? Hands down, Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L'Engle.
As for a favorite book, I rarely have a favorite anything because I have broad interests and enjoy, or am inspired by, many books and authors. Sorry I'm hard to pin down!

9/30/2020 10:11:20 am

That piano technique makes a lot of sense.
I have recommended something similar for writing a book. Some writers like to plan or plot out the book's main points, others just like to start writing. the former are known as plotters and the latter as pantsers, because they write by the seat of their pants. I have recommended to both to write the last chapter first. That way the author knows the target they are writing towards. It allows for planting of hints and foreshadowing to a greater degree. That reminds me of another good guest blog on my website, by Rick Hall, non-linear writing.
I used to strictly read only science fiction and fantasy, now I am a fan of good writing in almost any genre.
New questions.
Do you ever read a book more than once? If so, which one?
Does writing have a spiritual or healing component for you, does it energize you or make you feel tired?

9/30/2020 11:31:29 am

I have to laugh because my children's trilogy began from a dream I had in the 90s, which is the end of the entire series. I am mostly a panther but also a plotter, too, since with three books I have to keep track and plan what's happening in which book
I also love fantasy and some sci-fi but otters genres, too.
Writing absolutely has a healing and spiritual component for me. It gives me energy and is very fulfilling. I only ever get tired from writing if I over do it. I get more easily tired with technical writing but sometimes that's necessary so I plow through.

9/30/2020 12:08:25 pm

Nice. Having the end in mind clearly is important for a book to stay on track; even more important for a multi-volume series.
I am not surprised that you call yourself a hybrid author. Many authors do the same, drawing from both sides of that fence. I know of at least one author who writes each chapter by the seat of their pants, then they outline the chapter to maintain a bird's eye view and be able to find details quickly. .
Working in your giftedness and being in the flow with the muse does produce good feelings, even if you are tired. A golden glow suffuses everything for a time.
New questions.
Why is it important for writers to tap into the emotions of the characters?
Has your life turned out differently than expected or planned?

9/30/2020 12:51:04 pm

It's essential to tap into the emotions of characters to bring them to life and make them relatable.
My life has turned out completely differently than I thought as a child. I always knew I would 'help people' since a young age but didn't know how the would look. I also remember combing through the high school book of careers and not finding 'mine' even though at the time I had no idea what that was. I wonder now if acupuncturist or herbalist are in those books?

9/30/2020 01:20:06 pm

The emotional connection is very important, otherwise the characters seem flat or shallow.
I bet you will find those career fields in the book of careers now.
New questions.
How does a writer ensure the reader will connect with the characters?
Have you ever done NaNoWriMo?

9/30/2020 01:48:00 pm

Good question. It's taken me years to learn about bringing characters to life and I still am. Again, non-fiction comes easy to me, but fiction? It's hard! What I've learned is to embody the character and flesh them out with feelings and senses. People are looking for characters they can relate to so these are two ways I'm aware of.
I've never heard of NaNoWriMo - I'll look them up!

9/30/2020 02:38:02 pm

Some writers go to great lengths to make their characters seem real and understand them as individuals. I have heard from writers with an artistic bent, they draw or paint pictures of the characters, some design wardrobes and playlists. Others search through pictures on the internet until they find one that matches the image of the character in their mind. Many authors create a character sheet that provides details about the character whether or not it all gets into the story is not important. One of my guest bloggers, Rick Hall, made a website he describes as a character generator. You can build or find a character that is psychologically congruent, regardless of being a protagonist or antagonist. Put his name in the search box below to see all of his fabulous guest blogs.
NaNoWriMo is coming up soon, a lot of authors join groups for mutual support and fun. There is nothing like a little social pressure to help reach a goal. Less than 1700 words a day is all it takes to reach 50,000 words of a first draft. It's a good way to jumpstart a new book.
New questions.
Are you an under-writer or an over-writer?
When the first draft is done, do you need to add more to flesh it out or do you have to cut material because there is too much?

10/1/2020 10:23:47 am

What great ideas for character building! I appreciate you sharing all of these as there are some I haven't heard of. I will also look for Rick Hall's information.
Here we go again - I am a hybrid writer, i.e., both an under- and over-writer. I think of it as a painting where I write one layer, then add another and another and so on. But at some point, I have to cut it back.

10/1/2020 12:16:49 pm

You are welcome. It's a pleasure to share what I have received from others.
Hybrid it is. I like the idea of painting in layers. I know that is how a lot of painters have worked, especially using oil-based pigments. Because it took so long for the paint to dry. Making changes and adjustments are easier that way.
That process of layers includes the idea that the first draft is never the last draft, it's merely the necessary function of getting the story out of your head. It is impossible to edit a blank page.
Let's dig a little bit deeper. New questions.
When working through the excess writing, are you talking about sentences, paragraphs or a chapter that didn't survive the final cut?
Do you save the parts that don't make it into the final version?

10/1/2020 12:28:26 pm

As for non-fiction, I many have cut words and sometimes sentences. Since I am writing what I know, the words flow easily onto the page.
In terms of fiction, I cut words, sentences, paragraphs, and chapters as needed. I've learned to be ruthless. I do save most parts that don't make it. I have many drafts on file, although I rarely refer to them anymore. Keep in mind I've been eating myself to write fiction for over two decades and learned from many mistakes and over-writing.

10/1/2020 03:14:28 pm

It is necessary to be ruthless, sometimes, even if it hurts. Quite a few authors chant the mantra, 'kill your darlings'. I think it means more than one thing. The first thing that comes to mind is a favorite character, sometimes it is needful for the plot to kill a favorite character, that doesn't mean they have to stay dead; but it does take them off the scene for a while. The second thing that comes to mind is a favorite bit of prose or dialogue. That paragraph or two that the author is especially proud of. As the editing moves from phase to phase, that precious bit becomes irrelevant. It must leave the book at least for the present. Maybe, it can reappear later.
The multiple drafts are necessary only for little while, usually. They serve as a backup, in case of disaster. I now save daily backups of proofreading work as an attachment to an email draft, that I never send. Once the work is returned to the author, I delete those email drafts. If I was writing a book, I think I would save those drafts for a longer period of time.
There is a great deal different about writing fiction compared to non-fiction. There is no mistake about that. Because of that, I will ask a few questions fiction related as we go along.
New fiction questions.
Do you cut mostly descriptions, action or dialogue?
Do you prefer dialogue tags or action beats in your fiction books?

10/1/2020 06:12:38 pm

You are so right about 'kill your darlings' and what it can mean. This was very hard at first; now it's a tad easier.
I know a published author who saves ALL his drafts hard copy. I wouldn't have any room left if I did that. Thankfully, today we have the Cloud to back up electronic versions, which I keep along with the current manuscript and the most recent past hard copy draft.
I cut whatever is necessary, but it is mostly descriptions. I am more of an action writer so it's taken me longer to learn the importance of an "appropriate" amount of descriptions. I've also changed my dialogue so it is more active, without the "he said" - "she said" tags.

10/1/2020 08:13:48 pm

Knowing what to cut is very hard for new writers. Some genres involve a lot of research, some writers hate research and others love it (me). Those latter writers get really excited at some of the unusual and arcane nuggets they find and are excited to put it into the story (me), in fact, they want to put all of that research into the story (me, again). That leads to a condition known as the dreaded information dump and that kills more readers, at least their desire to finish that book, than almost everything else. You have to give out the good stuff in tiny portions, just enough to keep two hummingbirds alive.
I like action beats quite a bit. They can move the story along in a smoother fashion than a passel of saids. Using said is necessary and needful at times, one author recently wrote, said brings a finality to a statement or situation. It can be a good way to end a section or a chapter.
New fiction questions.
What do you do to flesh out the characters for your stories? How do you give them depth?
Do you base your characters on people you know or have met, or is it easier to just invent them completely?

10/2/2020 11:07:44 am

I love research, too, and sprinkle discovered gems throughout the story line. I think this makes the story richer as well as sparks my imagination for other ideas and development.
To flesh out characters, I imagine I am that character and consider how I would feel, act, think, and so forth. Some of my characters are based on people i know, some on mu own traits, and some are necessary for the story line so i develop them accordingly.

10/2/2020 02:02:38 pm

It does make the story richer. It's fun to run across those bits as a reader. Sometimes they open up a new level of understanding or inspire a new train of thought.
I think many authors do exactly that. Few characters are an accurate representation of one person.
I was written into a cozy murder story. I had a little dog and was secretly a bad guy, aiding and abetting the antagonist. When my character had a change of heart the antagonist killed me with my own favorite knife. The dog lived. It was a good death.
New questions.
What is your writing routine when you sit down to write?
Do you write in a straight line or do you write whatever the muse provides for you at a given moment?

10/2/2020 05:14:50 pm

Your cozy murder story character gave me a good laugh! It must have been fascinating to see yourself altered and in print.
I try to write first thing in the morning. I think of it as "paying myself first." But really, I write any time when the muse strikes. It could be during dinner out, in movies, or even concerts (when we could do all that). I always keep a little notepad with me for those times. Ideas even come in the middle of the night and I have a method of jotting them down when its dark. They are mostly legible in the morning!

10/2/2020 08:32:16 pm

You are right, it was fun.
I am a first thing in the morning kind of person also. I know that is when I am at the top of my game. I also know that I lose my edge slowly during the day. I reserve the last hour of the day for reading for book promotions, or just reading, if I am caught up.
Paying yourself first is a very good idea.
Inspiration appears at what seem to be very unlikely moments much of the time. One of my clients told me she is regularly visited by her muse at 2:30 in the morning, nearly every night. She keeps a pad and pencil on her nightstand also. I have seen a pen with a light built into the nose, that would certainly be handy.
Another author lamented to me that her muse would regularly show up in the midst of her shower and she could never get out fast enough to write much of it down. I suggested she get a Space pen and a pad of waterproof paper. She told me that was a great idea.
New questions.
Did your writing process change much from your early writing to your current book or did it stay the same?
This book was first published in 2000 and is in its ninth printing, is there anything about it you would like to change?

10/3/2020 08:03:04 am

Ha, a space pen and waterproof paper - if only. I taught myself to take notes in the dark so the light won't walk me up. It works 99% of the time. I once used a recorder so I could verbally catch my ideas whenever they came - this would work in the shower, too - but I find the writing process much more conducive to my thoughts. Somehow it opens a door to my subconscious so more connections occur.
Oh yes, my writing process has absolutely changed from when I first started. Overall for non-fiction, I've learned to streamline my words so descriptions and information are more direct and it reads better.
If I changed anything with A Kids Herb Book it would be the stories. I've learned much more about character development and gained better writing skills since then. The stories would definitely benefit from both..

10/3/2020 08:22:46 am

I just recently heard about some new research that claims writing by hand, as opposed to typing, uses more of the creative part of the brain. Which is great, if you can read your handwriting.
Writing in the dark is an interesting idea. I think I would have to write fairly large in order to decipher it in the morning. My handwriting is not very good, my printing is quite legible, a bonus from my days as a drafter for electrical engineer in the 70s.
New questions.
We started talking about your non-fiction writing journey. You shared that you are writing fiction also. How long have you been writing fiction, whether it has been published or not?
What else are you writing these days? Are you writing anything for yourself or only for readers?

10/3/2020 08:33:53 am

I have been writing fiction since at least 1998, if not earlier. But because I've been teaching myself, it's still evolving. I finally feel I have a handle on the writing part, although I'm sure more needs attention in the character department. It really has been a part-time passion because I've published most all my other books during this time span, not to mention running my other businesses and raising a family. Now that I'm in partial retirement, I've got more time to dig in and write creatively. I intend the trilogy will be published someday Now I know who to run it by for word refining! Do you do other editing, too?
The last decade of writing has mainly been devoted to our herbal distance learning course, The East West Herb Course (the East West School of Planetary Herbology). Over 2200 pages needed updating and reformatting since it's inception in 1980 so it took some time, as you can imagine.
I do have more non-fiction books in the works, it's just a matter of finding time to get to them. Right now I'm enjoying creative fiction writing so much, they are still on the back burner.

10/3/2020 09:33:25 am

I think most authors grow into their writing. It seems to take a long time and multiple volumes or stories to find the right balance with description, action and dialogue for many authors. There is a maturing process that all must go through. I have heard of some editors upon receiving a first book from a new author, throw the book away and tell the author to write another book. The second book is almost always much better than the first book.
I bill myself as a proofreader, but I do much more than that. I also do a fair amount of copy editing and some general editing. I know my limitations and prefer to under promise and over deliver for my clients. I include beta reading in my proofreading also, I am a lifelong reader first, I look for plot holes and other inconsistencies such as name changes. The last can be important in fantasy and sci-fi. Contact me several months in advance of your need. I usually have a waiting list. I tell authors I provide the greatest value after all the editing and rewriting is done. I find spelling errors in 95% of published books.
I am glad you are enjoying the creative writing.
New questions.
Do you have a classical author or poet, you admire?
What popular modern authors have influenced you?

10/3/2020 10:20:53 am

Whew - it is good to know most authors grow into their writing because that is definitely what i have been slowly doing. And I'm thrilled to learn of all your skills - I may well be calling on you for those in the near future!
As for classical writers, I seem to have gravitated most to Russian, German, and French writers. I loved Victor Hugo from age twelve on when I first read Les Miserables. I've also read a lot of Dostoevsky, Balzac, Duma, and Hesse plus many others. Modern authors include Jodi Picault and Mary Oliver although there are so many more. I spent years studying various spiritual and personal growth texts as well.

10/3/2020 10:33:49 am

Thank you, I look forward to working with you.
You have done some interesting reading. That is quite a lineup. I read Hesse's Siddhartha. That was quite interesting for me. I liked his emphasis on being patient.
I have been almost exclusively a reader of science fiction until I got my hands on Tolkien's trilogy. Then fantasy became my second favorite genre.
New questions.
Are there any authors that influenced the writing of this book?
If you could meet your favorite author, what would you ask them?

10/4/2020 11:19:47 am

How could I forget about Sci-fi and fantasy? I also love Tolkien's trilogy, and of course Asimov, Lewis Carroll's Narnia books, the Mars Trilogy by Kim Stanley Robinson, Doris Lessing's books, Marion Zimmer Bradley ,and so many more.
No authors influenced my writing of A Kids Herb Book. I actually loved craft books as a kid so the vision to write this book came naturally. I actually started on it as my first book, although it wasn't complete until after my first two adult herbs were published.
I have a question for you: how do you feel about adjectives? I know some writers think they muddy the reader's waters and others love them.

10/4/2020 12:58:58 pm

Tolkien and C. S. Lewis are two of my favorite authors. Lewis amazed me by writing so many different types of books. Did you know Lewis wrote a sci-fi trilogy? He did, "Out of the Silent Planet" is the first one, even better the protagonist is fashioned after his good friend, J. R. R. Tolkien.
Adjectives? I love them. They can bring so much to a story and characters. Adjectives enable us to get closer to nouns and pronouns. They provide shades of meanings that wouldn't be easy to provide any other way. They can also be overused and overworked. I think moderation in most things provides a pleasing experience.
New questions.
What software do you use to write and publish your books, and why do you use those?
How do you keep track of all the characters and events in your books?

10/4/2020 01:39:28 pm

I didn't know about that Lewis trilogy so I look forward to more good reading. And I agree with you about adjectives.
I write in Word on a Mac for all my books. I had no need to keep track of characters and events in A Kids Herb Book, but the second book in my children's trilogy is long and complex. I finally created a wide table with the main 'characters' in columns and X which ones are in which chapter to keep track of everything.

10/4/2020 02:38:34 pm

The Chronicles of Narnia have overshadowed so much of Lewis's other works. Few have heard of his sci-fi set. I am glad I could share that with you.
Fantasy and sci-fi can have lots of characters, sometimes. Many writers do what you do.
There are different kinds of writing programs available. One of them is Scrivener, it's compatible with Word. I am told that it has a steep learning curve, but those that master it love the flexibility and control it provides for writing a book, complicated or simple. I grabbed the link for you if you want to check it out: https://www.literatureandlatte.com/scrivener/overview copy and paste time. I have no financial interest in this program, FYI.
New questions.
Have you ever had the experience of the story swerving in a different direction than planned, as if a character was driving it?
I know there are many ways to build the outline. Do you do it all on the computer or do you get analog at some point with post-its or note cards?

10/4/2020 03:34:02 pm

Thanks for the link to Scrivener. I't looks interesting. I may try it, although I have to say I mainly write by hand wherever I am. I have a friend who is writing a book about plot planning and it's excellent. I hope she finishes it and gets it published as I think it would help a lot of writers. It uses a large table with post-it notes that can be moved around.
For writing non-fiction, I plan out the chapters and their flow ahead of time and then fill them in. For fiction, I have a general idea of what I'd like to happen and actions I want included but I let the characters also tell me what they want. I guess I'm hybrid all the way! The table I created for the second book was after the first draft so I could find holes or jams that needed work.

10/4/2020 06:14:31 pm

Let me know if you take it on, I would love to hear how it works for you. Post-it notes on a table or board is pretty decent of an idea. I use Post-it notes to track my clients for proofreading. Every once and awhile I have to write a new note because one stops sticking.
You are a very hybrid writer. Which I think is a smart way to go. Incorporate the best of both ideas, flexibility is key.
New questions.
Do you have defined space for writing at home, or are you a coffee-shop writer?
Do you listen to music or have the TV on when writing at home, or do you need quiet?

10/5/2020 09:09:02 am

I write anywhere the muse grabs me. That's mostly at home, although because I write by hand, it could well be at the beach or in the woods. I don't purposefully put on music or TV to write, but if an idea comes when either are on, I'll write it down and am able to focus on just that. For focused periods of writing, I definitely prefer quiet.

10/5/2020 09:23:04 am

Not being tied to an electronic device has some advantages for writing. No worries about a source of power.
I can read in almost any environment. If I am doing proofreading, which i give a great deal of concentration to, I need quiet.
New questions.
Of the five senses which is the easiest to write and which is the hardest?
Have you ever participated in theater in some way, acted, behind the scenes or written a play?

10/5/2020 10:58:45 am

Of the five senses, for me the visual is easiest to write while the hardest is taste, followed by touch.
I acted in plays when very young as we'd put on neighborhood performances. I have performed for much of my life but not in plays, rather synchronized swimming and then dance. I should think being in plays would help one to write better but I'm not sure i'll be getting that experience any time soon!

10/5/2020 01:25:58 pm

Many authors say pretty much pretty much the same thing. That makes sense to me, I suppose the work around would be to use a common taste experience as a reference point.
I have recommended to many authors to take a class in screen writing or play writing. It provides a different angle or perspective on the writing process. I think it's important because writers are trying to have the reader visualize something in a certain way in their mind. The clearer the picture, the greater enjoyment factor for the reader. If the author has a goal of getting their book to a screen, large or small, knowing how to write for that medium might enable the author to make their story easier to convert.
Last questions.
What kind of marketing has worked the best and the least for you for your books?
Did anything in the book come as a surprise while you were writing?

10/5/2020 02:50:12 pm

Excellent advice. I'm in a writing group and one of our members has written for TV. Screen plays are a different animal entirely and beautifully teach the necessity of cutting words and boosting imagery, not to mention how to get one's plot and message across succinctly.
The best marketing I've had for a Kids Herb Book has been word of mouth. Because it highlights a specialty area, herbs and healing, knowing of me in the field has helped promote the book, too.
Because A Kids Herb Book is non-fiction, none of it came as a surprise to me when writing it. However, while working on the fictional children's trilogy I've immersed in, there are many surprises all the time from character unfoldment to action and locations. Perhaps that's what's so fun about it, it's a very creative process that's always evolving.

10/5/2020 03:12:04 pm

That sounds like a good group you are in. You described screenplays so well in just a few words.
With the advent of more streaming services, studios of all sizes are scrambling more and more to find original content. It shouldn't be too long before studios are going to recognize what a deep well they can draw from with the millions of indie authors. It will pay to be ready for that time.
I have another promotion that starts tomorrow. I must bring our time to a close. Thank you for being such a wonderful guest on the Word Refiner channel.
I am looking forward to seeing your trilogy.
Thanks again, and keep on writing.

10/5/2020 04:49:28 pm

And thank you so much, Mark. You've shared much wonderful information and given great tips. I really appreciate your interview process, too. I'll miss our daily interchanges. Thanks for the fun interview!

A Kid's Herb Book: For Children of All Ages By Lesley Tierra

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