Meet Our June Guest Guru: Ciara O'Neal

We are very excited to feature our May Guest Guru (Ciara O'Neal) who brings a wealth of knowledge and information as a multi-published picture book author to us. She will give a rating and feedback to four lucky Rate Your Story Members this month. Members can request her from Judy, our in-box coordinator (via to RateYourStory@gmail.com), and if there are available spots and your manuscript seems like a good fit, you will receive this benefit.

Q: What did you love about being a child?

A: When I was a child, every nook and cranny hid a treasure. Every door, garden, and puddle held new worlds to explore. There was always another adventure around the corner.

Q: What brought you to children’s books? 

A: I don’t think I ever truly grew up. :) I decided to become a teacher and eventually a librarian because I never wanted to leave the adventures behind.

Q: What do you love about children’s books?

A: Children’s books have always felt like coming home. There a place of warmth, love, and humor.

Q: Share a little bit about your most recently-published book. How long was its path to publication? What did you learn from this experience? What is your favorite thing about this book? 

A: My most recent book Shackleton’s Impossible Ice Journey  was a labor of love. Nonfiction always takes time to write. After I wrote the piece, my publisher decided a shorter length would be more appropriate. So it was time to chop, chop, chop. My critique partners and my agent know, I am a wordy birdy. So it further reinforced the need to make every word count.

Q: Share a little bit about another book you wrote and how you drew upon your interests or experience to research / write it. 

A: The book I released right before, Shackleton’s was Pedro the Pirate. This title is near and dear to my heart because I wrote it for the children in foster care. As a foster parent, I watched as children entered our home not ready to trust that they were safe and loved. I wanted them to understand that there was enough room in their hearts to let new people in. 

Q: What do you love about the genre of books you write in (please be specific)?

A: My published books have mainly been nonfiction. I love researching. It is like turning over a puzzle piece and try to fit it into a puzzle. You never know where research will take you.

Q: What does a story need to make it a favorite for you?

A: Heart. If an author can make me fall in love with the main character whether through kindness, bravery, or cleverness I will be hooked.

Q: Share a story that you love and why. 

A: One of my all time favorite stories will always be Gordon Kormon’s Restart. In this novel, a boy falls from a roof and wakes with amnesia. The main character battles to overcome a past he doesn’t remember, deals with parental and societal expectations, to become the person he wants to be,

Q: What is a common issue you see in the manuscripts you critique?

A: For picture book writers, I think I most often see description or actions that are not necessary with illustrations. (I am guilt of this even as a veteran writer.)

Q: Please share a Submission Tip with our Members. 

A: Don’t be afraid to personalize your query letter. You need to stand out amongst many voices. I landed my agent with a query letter that was written the voice of a pirate character.

Q: Please share a Revision Tip for our Members. 

A: Before submitting, be ready to chop, chop, chop word count. 

Q: Name subjects you would like to read about. 

A: I love to read anything, but humorous stories are my jam.

Q: Name subjects you would not like to read about.

A: Farm stories, board books, and books for 0-2 crowd may not be the best fit for me.

Q: Share something you wish we had asked you about, but didn’t! 

A: What is my favorite donut? Glad you asked. Maple! How about yours?

Q:  Share a fun fact about YOU! 

A: My daughter and I are obsessed with Scooby Doo. We even have our crime solving canine named, Ruby Doo. Although, she is usu ally the culprit as well.

Bio: Combine humor and a love of books. Stir in seven noisy kids, three dogs, and a husband. Add in a pinch of writing and a dash of being a librarian... and Voila! You have author, Ciara O’Neal. This busy mom plots world domination with a donut in each hand.

Click here to learn more about Ciara's latest books, Shackleton's Impossible Ice Journey, orPedro the Pirate.. Visit her at: https://ciaraoneal.weebly.com/