Debbie Dadey, author and co-author of 145 books, including the critically acclaimed Keyholder series, recently chatted with us about the Adventures of the Bailey School Kids series and Keyholder series. Come along as she shares her world of writing, collaborating with co-author Marcia Thornton Jones, school visits, and speaking engagements. Each unique and exciting in their own right.
Please share your collaboration process with co-author Marcia Thornton Jones.
Marcia and I have written many books together, as well as separately. However we write, we always start with a plan or outline. We use that outline to frame the story, and pass it back and forth to each other over the Internet. We call it playing “hot potato.”
The Adventures of the Bailey School Kids series was co-written together in Lexington, Kentucky. You and Marcia are now writing long distance on the Keyholder series. What obstacles have you experienced writing from different locations?
Actually we stay more focused when we work together long distance. When we’re together, we tend to get off subject more with chatting.
The Adventures of the Bailey School Kids series has won numerous awards. Please share with us your initial reaction.
We’ve always wanted to write stories that kids would want to read, even kids who were reluctant readers. It pleases us to no end to receive fan letters telling us that we’ve helped a student become a reader. That is the best reward.
With over 140 books published and over 40 million sold, how do you keep each story fresh and exciting?
Certainly that’s a concern with any series, but since Marcia and I both visit numerous schools each year we get tons of fresh ideas from students. Every day, my web site, www.debbiedadey.com gets letters from kids in the Kids Talk section. They are an endless and joyful source of ideas.
Please provide us a glimpse into the world of the new Keyholder series.
Three normal fifth graders are chosen to be the new Keyholders, the ones who must keep the bad magic out of the real world. They are given three “links,” or magical helpers—a young dragon who is allergic to turkberries, a sarcastic unicorn, and a rat with a secret. The three kids and their helpers are the only ones standing in the way of the evil Queen of the Boggarts who is determined to take over the real world.
Your appearances and book signing schedule is jammed packed through November 2009. How do you balance your appearances with writing?
It seems we are adding more events daily, but I do feel like it’s important to make writing a priority. It’s my passion, after all. Sometimes I remind myself that if I write at least a page a day, in a year I’ll have 365 pages.
How are your school visits structured?
They are broken up by grade levels, so that I can talk appropriately to each group. For younger students, I have an interactive skit of sorts and a puppet that stresses the need to practice. With older students, I get more into the writing process, how I work with a co-author and illustrator, as well as where I get ideas.
Besides your school visits and book signings, you speak at conferences. What do you find to be the most challenging in preparing for your speeches?
Sometimes I feel like the preacher preaching to the choir. I think surely these parents, teachers, and librarians know how important it is to read aloud to their children. I’m often surprised that the single most important thing we can do to make children into readers is forgotten or neglected.
Please share with us an unusual event that occurred at one of your appearances.
I’ll never forget the adorable young lad who came up to me during a school visit in Indiana. He wanted to know where Liza, Melody, Howie, and Eddie (the characters in the Bailey School Kids series) were. He was crushed to find they wouldn’t be there—it was just me! To him, my characters were real and he wanted to meet them.
Please share with us your latest project and where we can learn more about your exciting career.
I’ve had a lot of fun working with Marcia Jones on our new Keyholder series. It debuted in May 2009 with the first two titles, This Side of Magic and The Other Side of Magic. Two more titles, Inside the Magic and The Wrong Side of Magic, will be out this fall. It’s a mixture of laughs, frights, and friendship. I’ve just put up a new webpage up at www.debbiedadey.com so that kids and adults can join in the fun. Luke loves basketball, so kids can play basketball there. More games, a letter from me, and character cards are among the activities I hope kids will enjoy. There are even two teacher’s units. A book trailer gives a glimpse into the series as well.
Learn more about Debbie Dadey at: www.debbiedadey.com