Hello! It is I, Erin, and today I have an interview for you with Anna Grace Durham, twelve-year-old author. Not only did she get published in The Children’s Tome, but she has also self published multiple books. This young author is going to go far in life!
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Q: Hello, Anna! I’m so happy to be here with you today. Let’s start with a simple question. When did you start writing and why?
A: For my whole life, I’ve always loved making up stories in my head and acting them out with my toys. But when I was six years old, I thought it would be fun to actually write those stories down. The first story that I wrote down was about a girl who was desperate to be a ballerina, and I had so much fun writing it! I kept on writing short stories for years, but when I was nine years old, I realized that I would like to make something more than just a fun hobby out of my writing.
Q: That’s amazing! Can you tell me about the books you have published?
A: I self-published my first book, One of a Kind, at nine years old. It was about a girl who struggled with school and tried desperately to become like her big sister, who always got straight A’s. But at the end of the story, the girl realizes that she is One of a Kind, and that she can never and should never be exactly like her sister. Well, one day after I published that book, I was reading through a story I had written a couple of years earlier about a girl traveling on the Oregon Trail. I realized that it would make a good book to self-publish. My mom helped me edit the story, and A Real Home for Carrie was published when I was ten years old. After that, I discovered my love for writing historical fiction. In the next two years, I wrote and self-published three more books: A Good Fortune for Mary (the story of a girl traveling to the New World on the Mayflower), A Fresh Start for Rachel and Abigail (the story of a rich plantation owner’s daughter and a slave girl during the Civil War), and A Mystery for Ruby (the story of a girl who travels with Buffalo Bill’s Wild West show).
Q: That is so cool. I have those books in my Amazon cart. What was the self publication process like at such a young age?
A: Well, one day when I was nine years old, I approached my parents and asked them if there was a way to make my stories into a real book that people could buy. My dad is a preacher and has self-published a few Bible study class books online himself, so he was familiar with the process and was able to help me. I designed the cover of One of a Kind on my own, and my dad formatted the cover and manuscript for me. I remember so well the day that my dad told me my story was live and available to buy on Amazon. I had never been so excited! The first thing I did was run to the trampoline and jump for joy.
Q: Wow! Sounds like your parents are very supportive! Can you share what else they do to support you?
A: I would be lost without my parents’ help and support. They have done so much for me to make my dream of being a writer possible! With every book I was working on, my mother sat next to me and helped me whenever I got stuck. She helped me form my ideas and was always encouraging me to write! As I mentioned before, my father has done so much for me on the publishing end. He formats everything for me and did the art on four of my book covers! My entire family is so supportive of me. My grandparents buy twenty or more copies of each book and tell everyone about them! My aunt was even able to get my books into the bookstore where she works. So many people I know have been so kind to me, buying my books, telling me how much they enjoyed them, and always asking if I’m starting any more projects. I am incredibly thankful to all of them, and most of all, I am thankful to God for giving me my talents. I will do everything I can to bring glory to Him through my writing!
Q: *nods* I totally agree. What is one piece of advice you have for young writers?
A: The advice I have for young writers is this: Never change who you are. Sometimes it is easy for me to see someone else’s writing and think that it’s so much better than mine. It is very tempting to change yourself and the way you write because you want to be more like someone else, or you think other people will like it better. But everyone is different, and everyone’s writing styles will be different. That doesn’t mean that one person is better than someone else; it just means everyone is unique. And if you change yourself to be like someone else, you lose that special uniqueness! Your writing will be the best that it can possibly be if you stay true to yourself and what you feel inspired to write.
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How true is that advice! Remember, everyone, please don’t change who you are just because someone else you admire has a different writing style than you.
Have you read any of Anna’s books? Comment below!
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