What has been your most rewarding moment as an author?
My most rewarding moments as an author are receiving thank-you notes from
children, parents, and adults, and sometimes kids send pictures of themselves with
my book. I feel grateful and joyful, knowing my book impacts children’s lives.
If you could offer one piece of writing advice to a novice author, what would it
be?
Write, then read, then rewrite. Repeat until you feel it’s at its best, and then do one
more round before you send it off for review.
Have you ever based characters on real people? Give us a couple of examples.
I have based three out of four books on real people/family members, with slight
changes so it is not entirely about them, and the fourth on an experience I had with
someone who had an autoimmune disease. My first book, Car Cars Go Zoom Zoom
Zoom, was created after watching my grandson play with his matchbox cars by
himself. He was about three years old and made them do so many tricks and turns.
His playfulness inspired me to write a book about his experience. Another book I
wrote, MiMi’s Mini Tea Party, was inspired by playing with my granddaughter in a
tea-party setting. She loved dressing up and displaying her manners with her
imaginary doll friends. Kameryn’s Lost Lucky Charm was written during a time
when another granddaughter was fearful of making new friends at school. Vitiligo
Doesn’t Scare Me was written after a good friend’s request. He has vitiligo as an
adult, and after much discussion and research on the topic, I was inspired to write
a story on the topic from a child’s perspective. Finally, my last book, A Hebrew Tea
Party, Yah’s Way!, was written after I attended a tea-party event at my church.
Do you have your books edited, critiqued, and/or beta-reviewed? If so, what is
your usual procedure?
I write and rewrite until I am satisfied with my book’s intent. Then I let children
and adults read it for feedback. I make corrections and additions. Then I hire an
editor, have it critiqued, make changes, and move on to illustration and other tasks.
What made you consider writing in the first place?
I started by writing poetry to express my feelings. Then I was asked to write about
job events. Then someone suggested writing children’s books, and the rest is
history. My byline was “Chemist by Day, Writer by Night.” My tag is,
plantaseedhelpkidsgrow.
What genres appeal most to you as a writer?
Creating short fictional picture books for young readers is fun. I like to provide
insight into issues children face. I offer solutions without being preachy, which
allows the reader to think positively.
BIOGRAPHY:
Ms. Kirkland, raised in East Orange, New Jersey, and mostly lived in Maryland, is now a Texas-based author known for children’s books on friendship, self-acceptance, and growth.
The former chemist and writer has published five children’s books about life experiences and fun, including Car Cars Go Zoom Zoom Zoom!, Mi Mi’s Mini Tea Party, Kameryn’s Lost Lucky Charm, A Hebrew Tea Party, Yah’s way, and Vitiligo Doesn’t Scare Me!, available in schools and libraries. She also wrote “I’m A Survivor,” a poem for Sisters Network Inc., an African American breast cancer organization.
Ms. Kirkland, also a member of the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators (SCBWI), holds a Bachelor of Science in Biochemistry from Tennessee State University and a Master’s in Public Policy from the University of Maryland. She has two children and five grandchildren, who inspire her writing. Her books are available on Amazon.
WEBSITE: kimkirkland.com
San Gabriel Writers' League 