Targeted Speedpass with NF Author Mary Boone

As you may or may not know, Rate Your Story offers a Targeted Speedpass, both for Members and Non-Members. Each month, we have two Judges available for these. This month, one of our Target Judges is multi-published non-fiction author Mary Boone! Click here to grab a spot https://www.rateyourstory.org/speed-pass with either Mary or our Owner and Administrator Lynne Marie.

What brought you to children’s books? How long have you been writing?

I started out as a newspaper reporter and editor then shifted into magazine work. As long as I can remember, I’ve wanted to write books for kids -- even when I was a kid. I got some work writing for Teen People and a short-lived magazine called Mary-Kate & Ashley. Those connections gave me an entree into the world of writing for young readers.

Please tell us about the first book you published.

A friend from college was working for a publisher that was planning to produce some pop star biographies. He called and asked if I’d like to write a book about Hillary Duff who, at the time, was starring in a popular TV series called Lizzie McGuire. That job led to another and another and another … you could say I was hooked and soon I was pitching all sorts of projects to agents and editors.

What genres of books will you be open to rating for Rate Your Story?

Nonfiction for any age is my specialty. I also love picture books, chapter books, and middle grade.

List five things you look for in a successful story.

Specifically in regard to nonfiction, I look for:

A story I haven’t heard a hundred times before.
An unconventional angle to a story I’ve heard before.
Evidence that the author has done his/her research. Don’t simply regurgitate the same old facts.
Fascinating back matter -- not just a different formatting of the information you included in your story.
Surprise me. I love to be surprised (and so do readers)!

Name five subjects you love to read about.

Bold women.
Brilliant inventors.
Unexpected friendships.
New scientific developments.
Historical accounts I haven’t read before.

Name five subjects you don’t want to read about.

I can’t think of a single subject I wouldn’t want to read about -- if the story was compelling.

What author has inspired you most on your journey?

So many. A few nonfiction authors who are creating amazing work right now include Melissa Stewart, Jennifer Swanson, Heather L. Montgomery, Annette Whipple, and Laurie Ann Thompson. I’m also really inspired by the writers in my own, local critique group because I see them making the effort every single month; we’ve become a creative support group for each other.

What do you feel is an important preliminary step before actually writing a story?

Research. Research. Research. Research your topic. Research what else has been written on the topic. What will set your work apart from the rest?

Please share a writing Tip for our Members.

Write about what you care about. Passion shows.

Share a fun fact or two about YOU!

I grew up on a farm in Iowa, where I helped make hay, gather eggs, and sort hogs.
I’ve never met an art or craft project I didn’t love, from mosaic to sewing. In fact, I just got my own compound miter saw so I’m feeling kind of unstoppable!

List your newest book(s).

My new book is BUGS FOR BREAKFAST: How Eating Insects Could Help Save the

Planet (Chicago Review Press, Oct. 19, 2021)

BIO: Mary Boone has ridden an elephant, jumped out of an airplane, hung out backstage with a boy band, and baked dozens of cricket cookies – all in the interest of research for her books and magazine articles. She’s written more than 50 nonfiction books for young readers, ranging from inventor biographers to how-to craft guides. Her new book, BUGS FOR BREAKFAST: How Eating Insects Could Help Save the Planet, will be published by Chicago Review Press in Fall 2021. An active member of SCBWI, Mary lives in Tacoma, Wash., where she occasionally leads writing workshops. She is represented by Stacey Kondla of The Rights Factory. Visit Mary’s website to learn about her critique services: www.boonewrites.com