Happy Book Birthday, Candice Lemon-Scott!

I'm SOOOOO pleased to welcome a special friend to the blog today who is celebrating the release of the third book in her ECO RANGERS kid's series. Candice is one of the sweetest, kindest people I know and her books are just as wonderful. Check it out! 

Candice Lemon-Scott is an award-winning and internationally published Australian author, editor, and speaker. Her quirky style, fast-paced narratives and originality appeal to young readers in particular. Her latest release is a three-book series for children Eco Rangers, with New Frontier Publishing. Prior to this series, she published a six-book series for children, Jake in Space, also with New Frontier Publishing, as well as two Little Rocket titles Silver the Silly Sorcerer and Hubert and the Magic Glasses. She has published an additional two books for children with Penguin Books and Pearson Education. Her novel for adults Unloched is published with Odyssey Books and received a commendation in the Victorian Premier’s Literary Awards.
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Candice has a Bachelor of Communication / Diploma of Arts (Professional Writing & Editing) through Monash University and Chisholm Institute. She is a member of the Golden Key International Honour Society and has a professional background as a Media Manager. She is currently undertaking her Masters degree at the University of Newcastle. She is also a member of SCBWI, the ASA, GCWA, Book Links, Speakers' Ink and Greenleaf Press, and is a Books in Homes role model. When not writing and presenting, she can usually be found on a beach somewhere.
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THE INTERVIEW... 
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Who are you and what do you write?

Hi, I’m Candice Lemon-Scott. I’m an award-winning and internationally published author, editor and speaker. I'm also a qualified wildlife carer, and my latest series is 'Eco Rangers', published with New Frontier Publishing, which follows the adventures of two kids who help rescue and care for wildlife. I mostly write chapter books for children, so I've also written a Penguin Aussie Chomp ‘Stinky Ferret & the JJs’, two Little Rockets titles ‘Hubert & the Magic Glasses’ and ‘Silver the Silly Sorcerer’ with New Frontier Publishing and the six-book ‘Jake in Space’ series. I've written one book for adults, ‘Unloched’ which is published with Odyssey Books and that received a commendation in the Victorian Premier’s Literary Awards. Also, an educational reader with Pearson Education.

Where and when and how did the writing life begin for you?
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I’ve always written stories, since I was about 8 years old, but I first pursued writing seriously in my early twenties when I did a Bachelor of Communication / Diploma of Arts (Professional Writing & Editing). I started work in the media but wrote when I had time and it was two years after graduating that my first book was accepted for publication.

How has the journey to this point been? Can you give us a basic rundown?

I would call it slow and steady, that’s pretty much how the industry works for most people. My writing has taken place in between working as a Media Manager, then having my children, and later, once they were at school, going back into the workforce as a bookstore owner, which I still run now. I’ve always made sure I have at least one day a week devoted to writing. While I’m waiting for publisher responses to submissions I get busy working on my next project. My first book was published in 2008 and it’s averaged a little over one book being published per year, but some years nothing is released and others there’ll be two or three.

What's been the hardest part of your writing/publishing experience so far? And the most enjoyable?

The hardest part for me is the waiting. It can take years for a book to be accepted and then another year or more for it to be published. I’ve definitely had to learn patience (not something that comes naturally for me). The most enjoyable part is seeing my book in print for the very first time, when the stories are brought to life. It’s also a real joy when I hear from kids how much they enjoyed reading my book.

Would you go back and change anything?

I probably would have been less hasty sending some of my earlier manuscripts to publishers. That’s the impatient part of me again. I’ve since learned how important it is to make it the best it can be first because you only get one shot at having it read and considered by a publisher.

Where would you like to be in 5 years time? And 10? Or, what are your plans for the future?

In five years time I hope to have more books out there and to have finished my PhD. I’m beginning my Masters this year, studying the female hero in middle grade fantasy fiction. In 10 years my children will be fully grown, so I hope to travel more (I already travel whenever I can with my family), and to be writing full-time.

What's one piece of advice you'd give to new writers just starting out?

My best advice to writers starting out is to read as much as you can in the genre you want to write in, learn as much as possible about the craft, and to get as much feedback on your work as possible, whether it be professionally or with a critique buddy or group. Write because you love to, and tell the stories you feel called to write first and foremost.

And most importantly...

Ketchup or Mayo? - Mayo
Night or Day? - Day
Inside or Outside? - Outside
Dogs or Cats? - Cats
Twitter or Facebook? - Facebook
Ebook or Paperback? - Paperback
Walk or Drive? - Walk
Sun or Rain? - Sun
Keyboard or Pencil & Notebook? - Both - keyboard for writing, pencil and notebook for planning and ideas
Comedy or Drama? - Drama
Chips or Chocolate? - Chocolate