DWR Award Children's Book Finalist Patti Richards

This week’s Writer Wednesday is children’s book author, freelance editor/writer and DWR Award children’s book finalist Patti Richards from Farmington Hills, Michigan!

Patti has spent nearly 30 years writing stories and telling tales. Her debut fiction picture book, “Mrs. Noah,” was published in October 2021.  Her work also includes three nonfiction books and several magazine articles, including a fiction piece in Highlights Magazine. She's been a Writer’s Digest Honorable Mention winner three times for her picture book manuscripts.

She took first place for her children’s book manuscript, “Ida Pluck’s Cluck,” at the 2022 DWR Awards!  Learn more about her below!

What is your favorite part of the writing process?

This may sound really strange, because you don’t hear it often, but I love revising! Getting that initial draft down can feel daunting and take time, but once it’s there, I love moving sentences around, finding better words than what I wrote originally, and taking a story that’s way too long and cutting and cutting until only what’s essential is there and shining! If I don’t have at least five versions of a story before I ever submit it to my critique group, I don’t feel like I’m doing my job! 

What does your writing workspace look like?

For many years my “office” was the corner of our dining room! But just before Covid hit, we moved my office into the spare bedroom upstairs, and I just love it. I bought a new desk for the first time in 20 years, and have my bookshelves filled with my favorites and my walls covered in art that inspires and makes me happy. I’m a big Winnie-the-Pooh fan, so I even have my own little “Pooh Corner” on top of one of my bookshelves. My other favorite place to work is in the family room by the fireplace. I’ve spent more time there than in my office the last few months because I’ve had knee trouble, and working from the recliner just makes sense right now. But I love both spaces and have found that I can be equally as creative when I’m tucked in by a cozy fire as when I’m in my quiet office space. It’s nice to have a choice! 

What did you enjoy most about writing your children’s book?

I think for this particular work, “Ida Pluck’s Cluck,” the thing I enjoyed most was playing with word choice. I like to challenge myself by seeing how few words it takes to get a big point across, and Ida’s story is full of that kind of fun! And I also loved just thinking about her and the other barnyard critters and what they might look like. I’m a big barnyard animal lover, so this story is near and dear to my heart.   

What is your favorite non-writing hobby?

Gardening and baking! In the summer, I’m always trying out a new perennial in my garden. In the winter, I love challenging myself with recipes from the “Great British Baking Show!” My daughters and I are always pursuing that perfect flavor in a sponge, the right snap in a biscuit and avoiding the dreaded “soggy bottom” in a pastry crust! 

What is your favorite piece of writing advice?

Writers write. It’s who we are, not just what we do, and it has little to do with being published. Write what you love. There are no shortcuts. Do the hard work of learning your craft well and the successes will follow.

What writing projects are you currently working on?

One of the most exciting things that has happened to me in the last few months is the release of my first fiction picture book! It’s called “Mrs. Noah” (Little Lamb Books), and it’s available on Barnes and Noble, Amazon, Bookshop and wherever books are sold! I had so much fun writing “Mrs. Noah” and hope kids and families will have as much fun reading it! Here’s a brief synopsis:

“Mrs. Noah” is a celebration of love, and the motivation behind all the amazing things people do to make a house a home, even when that home is an ark! Mrs. Noah knows it takes more than wood, nails and a hammer to make their big boat a comfy place to live. Stalls need cleaning, beds need making and food needs baking before the animals come trotting, crawling, slithering and flying aboard! Can she help Noah see that love is in the details and get his help before the rain starts to fall?

Celebrating a book release and the marketing that goes with that has been a full-time job the last couple of months, but I’ve also carved out time to keep working on new projects. I have way too many in process to list here, so I’ll tell you what projects I’m super excited about right now. I’m working on a nonfiction picture book about Queen Elizabeth when she was a mechanic in the army during WWII. Her life fascinates me, and I’m just loving putting what I’ve learned about her into a story designed to inspire young girls. 

Another project I’m focused on right now is about helping kids talk about difficult subjects. It’s called “The Elephant in the Room.” It’s my hope that this one finds its way to the right publishing home soon once I start submitting, because it’s so needed.

I’m also playing around with a fractured fairy tale called, “A Needle in a Haystack.” It’s a western/cowgirl-themed version of the “Princess and the Pea,” and I’m having tons of fun with it!  

Learn more about Patti at pattigail1.com and follow her on Instagram at @Pattigrichards.