What happens when an uppity calf who thinks he has a royal pedigree tries to take over the job of a no-nonsense guard dog? Dust flies and so do some pretty hilarious antics.
Cookie, a black-and-white belted Galloway calf, thinks that he has come to the farm to be in charge of the herd of cows. Hoss, the German shepherd, figures that Cookie can barely keep track of his own tail. The only thing the two stubborn animals have in common is their loyalty to a young farm girl named Ann. So when Ann is in danger, the two rivals must figure out how to go from butting heads to putting their two heads together to save her.
Our "Featured Author" for October through December 2010
is... Carol Wallace Chickasha, Oklahoma
"Bill helps me 'stretch' the idea out and I outline everything that the story will need. Then I WRITE."
OCAI: Carol, we're so happy to have you with us to celebrate this wonderful autumn season. Tell us about your new easy-reader book, The Pumpkin Mystery.
Carol: The idea came from a real pumpkin patch ... mine. The first year that I decided to plant pumpkins for the GRANDS my patch was glorious. So many that our son, Justin, ended up dumping lots of leftovers in our front pasture. The second year, I was distressed to find that there were not many pumpkins growing. However, one day I noticed a vine squiggling out to the road from the front pasture and we then discovered that we had lots of pumpkins. Not in my pumpkin patch, but in the front pasture.
OCAI: Can you tell us about your writing/editing process? Do you write every day? How long does it take to write an easy-reader?
Carol: When we are "working" I usually write about 2 hours in the morning. Then if we have editing to do together we spend an hour or so in the afternoon. Right now, all day is BABY TIME. The real babysitter will take two days a week after Christmas and then full time in the summer. The writing of an easy-reader is about three weeks. The first edit may take two or three weeks.
OCAI: We know that you and Bill collaborate sometimes and we would love to know how that works? Who comes up with the idea and how do you two work together? Which do you enjoy the most, collarorating or writing alone?
Carol: The stories that we have done together have come from an idea that I had. Bill helps me 'stretch' the idea out and I outline everything that the story will need. Then I WRITE. Bill then reads and edits and helps me to fill in a
little. I like the easy-reader format, as I have enjoyed working with Steve Bjorkman. I don't really work with Steve, but I can envision what he is going to do with the story.
OCAI: Any new Carol Wallace or Bill & Carol Wallace books in the works?
Carol: When time allows I have my Valentine story "cooking". Our dog Hershey is the main character and she is brown with white hearts on her chest (at least she does in the story.) It involves Hershey's kisses. Bill is working on a boy/dog story. The babysitting is hindering that some!
OCAI: We wish you well with your wonderful new pumpkin book and congrats on that new grandbaby, too! Thanks for being with us at OCAI and we look forward to reading more Carol Wallace books!
Introduction
Carol Wallace was born in Chickasha, Oklahoma.Raised on the family dairy farm west of town, she attended a small country school about four miles from home.She attended high school in Chickasha.An only child for seven years, she was excited when she received a little brother to play with.The view from her front porch where she now lives, is the farm where she grew up and where she tucked away many happy memories of her childhood.
Background
Carol’s early writing success was a poem in high school about a pencil.It made the school newspaper.So … she ended up teaching second grade for 26 years.She loved reading aloud to her students especially picture books by Bill Peet.When her husband Bill began to write stories for his fourth graders, Carol would read his unpublished books to her classes.They loved it! Carol finally quit teaching, thinking that after 26 years, she was finally going to get to do whatever she wanted--to relax and watch TV.While watching The Price is Right, Carol was excited to see a lady fall down as she was spinning THE BIG WHEEL.Of course she wanted to share such excitement with her husband, who was working hard on a story! However, he didn't want to know about The Price is Right or about any of her soap operas.He did think she needed something to do that was a little more creative.
So . . . she decided to write a picture book about a moose.When it was rejected, she gave up on picture books. With all of her experience as a second-grade teacher, Carol knew what second graders liked to read and she wanted to write something just for them.However, Bill wrote for bigger kids. He kept encouraging her to “make longer sentences” and to "be more descriptive.” So with that in mind, she and Bill ended up with six chapter books for young readers.The first, of which, Carol dedicated to her last class of second graders. Carol has since gone on to write many more much-loved books for children.
Books Carol enjoys writing books about animals and continues to draw inspiration for her award-winning books through her own animals which include numerous dogs, one tough cat, and a cockateel. Along with her many chapter books, Carol has several easy readers just perfect for first and second graders to read on their own.She was very excited to receive the 2008 Garden State Children’s Book Award for her easy reader, One Nosy Pup which she proudly proclaims she wrote “all on her own!” Certainly an author in her own right, Carol now divides her time between writing, speaking, and her five grandchildren which hardly leaves any room for what she thought she'd be doing when she retired from teaching--relaxing!
Speaking Info
Carol travels with Bill when he does school presentations.She speaks to the lower level students (her specialty) while he presents to the 3-6 graders (his specialty).Her presentation is about her life as an author and includes a powerpoint presentation showing many of the animals that she uses for characters in her books. She says, "The audience can easily see that Bill and I write about what we know!” Carol’s most exciting speaking event was for the Reading Renaissance National Convention in Las Vegas.Thinking that she and Bill would be presenting in meeting room, she was shocked to discover that they would present in the MGM Grand Hotel Arena!It was a major event for Bill, too, as he worried Carol might “jump ship” on him but she didn’t!
One Nosy Pup, 2008 Garden State Children’s Book Award Turkeys Together The Santa Secret Easter Bunny Blues The Pumpkin Mystery Bill and Carol Wallace coauthored books The Flying Flea Callie and Me That Furball Puppyand Me Chomps, Flea and Gray Cat, That’s Me Bub Moose Bub, Snow and the Burly Bear Scare The Meanest Hound Around That Doggone Calf
Carol and Bill were inducted into the University of Science and Arts of Oklahoma Hall of Fame in 2008
Image:
Carol Wallace wins the Garden State Award!
Bill and Carol Wallace Authors Chickasha, OK " We've been married for 43 years, so we have learned how to "dance" with, and around our partner."
OCAI:We see the 'dynamic duo' has a brand new book called, That Doggone Calf. Can you tell us how you two collaborate on your writing?
Carol: With books that we do together, I usually come up with an idea, then I talk to Bill about it. Bill helps me figure out what needs to be in each chapter. Every day when I finish writing, Bill and I sit down together, do some spot editing, and possibly some rewrites. When I think I'm all finished, we go through it again, edit, then see if there are more rewrites that need done, or if it is good as it is. Ta duh!!!
OCAI: We've just got to know . . . living together, writing together, do you ever get tired of each other? What do you both do to create your own space? Any tips for those out there who are thinking of collaborating?
Bill:We've been married for 43 years, so we have learned how to "dance" with, and around our partner. Our offices are in different parts of the house, but Carol's office is the only one with internet service. Sometimes Carol has to disappear while I'm doing research. When we get off the road, we have our own "cool down" spaces. Not too long -- just a little while not listening to each other. ; ) What is our advice to those who wish to work together? Make sure you like and respect each other's work before you start. Take time, (at least a week) when you are finished writing the entire book to "cool off" before you start editing again. OCAI: Who's the better writer? Just joking, you don’t have to answer that question! Instead, can you tell us about upcoming works?
Carol: No doubt it's Bill! He can use words in a way that makes people "feel" a story instead of just reading it. But with the beginning readers, I'm absolutely the better writer. My writing is short and crisp, and I can visualize what the illustrator is going to do with my words and ... I have to be brief. Bill can't be brief!!! As for upcoming books, our newest title, That Doggone Calf, is now out and I have a new beginning reader that will be out next fall. We're both working on other projects but no titles yet.
OCAI: Thanks! You two are a special couple and we appreciate all that you do for students everywhere!
