Paul and Paula's Place: Hazel Mitchell on Come In, Sit Down, Tell Us About...

For you that are new, please read our intro now printed in Blue - for our returning guest feel free to jump to the text in black:
This blog is a meeting place for authors and others in the arts .... each week as others are directed to our door or just stumble on by, they come and leave information about themselves - telling about their new books or drawings or photos or to tell us about their new blogs. ****PLEASE be sure your comments are appearing on the latest most timely blog insuring your inclusion in the sending off to Google plus land at the end of the week.*****

Here is the link to Gwen’s site: http://indieauthornetwork.weebly.com/ , a site which I am closely affiliated.

As I am wont to say {as does Facebook}, our site is free to comment and share and always will be free. This is a great site to join and to become interactive with guest blogging. It gives you a chance to step out of your box and be whatever you wish.

Another blog that I have a close tie is CRYPTO and CO. Please pop over and check out all their pages.

I have been off doing business and my blogging, unfortunately, falls by the wayside. There is so much news to tell and swamping tends to cross eyes and brain fog off... so only a few links on today's news.

If we thought last month was busy, this month got off to a plunge into new adventures of editing, writing, publishing, promoting, and social interaction.

The Rain Cloud's Gift written for Children's Charities by our group The Peacock Writers' is on it's way to the NYC BOOK FAIR at the JACOB JAVIT'S CONVENTION CENTER. No mass books or signing, just books displayed for industry professionals, stars, editors, publicists, publishers, and acquisition teams for the movie industry. Gwenna D'Young has an Angel who was so impressed with the book, and has given us the money and backing to have the book appear in the line up. We are also in the process of releasing a full, pictures included, limited edition.

Our next book in this series will celebrate the fall season and we are recruiting writers {1 each} from India, Japan, and Philippines - America has Halloween and Thanksgiving, Great Britain has Guy Fawkes - we would like stories that reflect fall traditions or holidays for these other cultures as well. The stories would remain the sole property of the author and their use as a donation would only occur for the book collection for Children's Charities. The story is to be written on a level where a child could either read it or have it read to them - our age goal for readers is 0 through 12. Please contact me at https://www.facebook.com/paula.shene if interested in being considered.

I have been experiencing out of sync time as the top line after publishing is a day behind - Today however, is Thursday, May 31, 2012 and we have with us today Hazel Mitchell.

I met Hazel on Facebook almost two years ago when her avatar was a drawing and she referred to herself as The Wacky Brit. Hazel is one of our favorite imports. I was first drawn {no pun intended} to her through her sketches and there is one in her back room with my name on it and hopefully soon I can claim it and hang in my bedroom. It was only later I learned she was also an author. What's not to like, with this lovely lady? I hope you all take to her - she's not so much wacky as she is irrepressible - Okay Hazel ~ you're on

What inspired you to write?

It seems I have always been drawing and writing since I was a small child, and I can't imagine not wanting to do it one way or another. It's part of who I am and what I am able to do in life.

Do you have anyone you show manuscripts to and get advice from or are you a loner doing it all yourself?

I am not working with a structured crit group at the moment. I have in the past and it hasn't worked for me. But I do have a couple of trusted peers I can show my work to and get feedback. When your working on a book from a publisher you rely on the feedback from editor and art director.

What genre do you normally write in? Also, is there a genre you've always wanted to write in, but don't feel you could pull it off?

I am writing and illustrating picture books and chapter books, and working on a graphic novel. I would like to write middle grade novels. I don't think I could write a math text book

Do you ever base your characters on people you know?

Yes!

What advice would you give to someone who was just starting off in writing?

Learn your craft, whether you are an illustrator or writer or both. READ. Go to conferences. Go to book shows. Go to presentations by writers and illustrators. READ. And practice.Join trade associations like The Author's Guild and SCBWI.

Do your stories tend to have morals, or special messages, included within them?

No. I hope to entertain.

Tell us why we would enjoy reading your books?