Book: Snow Night
Q1. Hello Ma’am, can you please introduce yourself? Readers would love to know more about you.
My name is Julie Bergfors. I live in Crawfordsville, Indiana. I am a retired first grade teacher and a mom of three grown children. I have wanted to write since I was a young girl. When I taught school, I loved reading picture books out loud. So, when I retired, I decided to write one of my own.
Q2. What were the key challenges you faced while writing ‘Snow Night’ book?
The key challenge was getting someone to illustrate my story. When my good friend said yes, we had to talk about the pictures and lay out the story over zoom calls because of Covid 19. It was challenging, but fun.
Q3. What books or authors have most influenced your own writing?
I love the stories from E.B. White, Francis Hodgson Burnett and Madeline L’Engle. For picture books, I like Kevin Henkes, Arnold Lobel, Tomie de Paola and Leo Lionni.
Q4. What’s your favourite spot to visit in your own country? And what makes it so special to you?
I love to visit the ocean. I have great memories of family vacations in Florida and North Carolina. I also have family on Cape Cod in Massachusetts, where I often visit.
Q5. Is there lots to do before you drive in and start writing a book?
I like to go into schools and talk to kids about their experiences before I write a book. I am a substitute teacher in our elementary schools in my town. I get a chance to see what kids are doing and what they are reading.
Q6. How long did it take you to write ‘Snow Night’ book?
I had the story of SNOW NIGHT in my head for many years. While on vacation with my family in early 2020, I finally put the words to paper. It took me about one month to write, rewrite and edit the story.
Q7. On what all platforms readers can find ‘Snow Night’ book to buy?
My book is sold on my website: juliebergforsbooks.com and through amazon.
Q8. Tell us about the process of coming up with the book cover and the title ‘Snow Night’?
The cover was a picture I had in my mind about a school being covered in snow. My illustrator captured it perfectly. I originally wanted to call the book Snow Day at School. I came up with Snow Night instead, after seeing a lot of books already published with the words Snow Day in them.
Q9. When writing a book how do you keep things fresh, for both your readers and also yourself?
I read the latest picture books to see what is new. I also spend time talking with children to see what they like to read and what they think about a particular story idea.
Q10. Are there any secrets from the book (that aren’t in the blurb), you can share with your readers?
This story was a real-life event for students in Atlanta, Georgia during an ice storm in 2014. And, I have heard that it happened in my town as well, before I was born.
Book Is Available On Amazon
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