Author Interview – R. Janet Walraven

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R. Janet Walraven, M.Ed., is a retired 35-year teacher, K-12, and we had the pleasure of having this author interview – R. Janet Walraven for our blog. Check out this fantastic author and follow them for more amazing stories.

R. Janet Walraven, M.Ed., is a retired 35-year teacher, K-12. She is passionate about writing, gardening, children of all ages, art, the Ravens football team, and collecting ornamental hedgehogs from around the world. She writes in various genres.

Janet received a second-place award for Mainstream Short Story, A Deeper Wave, from Southwest Writers 2001 Contest. This gave her the confidence and incentive to continue writing. Connect for Classroom Success won a Silver Award with Readers’ Favorite International Book Awards (2022).

Rainbow of Promise: A World War II Romance won The Loyal Lyre Award (2019, Historical Fiction). Hector and Heloise in Paris (2022) is her first children’s book, encouraging children of all ages to visit the Louvre and the great museums of the world.

Her most recent book is Liam: The Boy Who Saw the World Upside Down (Narrative Non-Fiction, 2023). Janet enjoys meeting readers at book signings and traveling in Europe, Canada, and Mexico. She has three essays posted on Our Grandfathers’ Grain Elevators website. Her dad built the cement plant in Tijeras Canyon/Albuquerque (1958), and her parents owned The Texas Ann Motel (1958-1972), two blocks from Old Town, where McDonald’s is now.

https://ilovelucyandricky.fandom.com/wiki/Ethel%27s_Home_Town (Learn more about The Texas Ann Motel)

Having moved 79 times, she has decided to call New Mexico her home. She and her significant other, Mal Johnson, love adventures in The Land of Enchantment. Mal is her best critic and supporter.

When did you start writing?

I began writing in high school–mostly poetry. My serious writing came about in my early twenties after my father passed. I wrote the story of his untimely and questionable death and won a second-place award with Southwest Writers. That gave me the confidence to write for publishing.

What was it like growing up?

My father was a construction superintendent building mostly grain elevators; we moved 52 times all over the USA by the time I was a senior in high school. My mother considered it a great adventure, making her a wonderful teammate for my father. Changing schools and saying goodbye to friends was rather challenging. Fortunately, my two sisters and I were loved unconditionally by our excellent role-model parents–a tight-knit family.

How was your early life?

My grandmother lived in Bison, Kansas, so going “home” to Grandma’s was cherished. Moving an average of every eight months, I envied kids who lived in one place, making lifelong friends, and having that kind of stability. But my parents made up for it in many ways. We were exposed to many different cultures, and dialects, good and not-so-good teachers, and exciting adventures, and were blessed with learning always being encouraged.

What has been the biggest influence in your career?

The biggest influence in my 35 years of teaching was the student I wrote about in my recent book LIAM. Because he had been marginalized all of his life and was brought to me for a safe haven from bullying, I learned from him how important it is to truly connect with each individual student. He made a difference in my approach as an educator, and I am grateful.

Before that, I had several excellent teachers who role-modeled for me. Teaching is a challenging profession; I am grateful for those who influenced my choice of a career. My parents were instrumental in holding education standards very high; learning was of paramount importance.

Tell us about your newest release?

LIAM: The Boy Who Saw the World Upside Down is probably the most important book I’ll ever write. It’s a companion book to my first book Connect for Classroom Success. My mission is to help teachers find joy in teaching, thereby helping students find joy in learning. Liam came to me in 8th grade, having been labeled as “mentally retarded” and had been bullied all of his life. I was not a special education teacher so that became quite a challenge to decide how to handle the situation.

Author Interview - R. Janet WalRaven — https://www.facebook.com/janetwalraven

The book takes me through that year and subsequent years, showing my own struggle as well as learning what I needed to do to realize Liam’s potential. It’s quite a story that gives hope to parents, children, and teachers who understand what marginalization can do to a child, and what can be done to help that child be successful.

Which book of yours would you call your favorite child?

Rainbow of Promise: A World War II Romance

What inspired you to write this book?

I wrote my parents’ love story as a legacy for my family, and for those who grew up with depression-era parents and fathers who were sent overseas during WWII. My parents had quite the chemistry and worked through many challenges, including my dad being sent to Europe near the end of WWII. My parents loved to dance so I incorporated many early 1940s songs into the story’s context. I very much immersed myself in the writing, doing a lot of research, recalling stories my parents told me, and being “in their heads” when writing their dialogue. I have to smile just thinking about what a joy it was to write their romantic story.

What are you usually found doing when you’re not writing?

I love to travel, garden, and read various genres. I also enjoy readings and book signings as well as participating in podcasts.

What does your writing space look like?

“Come into my parlor” is how I identify my very special place to write. I have a lovely cherrywood desk, bookcase, credenza, and small file cabinet. My stereo provides background music while I write. I look out through a large window, half of which is covered in a beautiful stained glass floral pattern. When I’m ruminating about my writing, I look out to a golden rose bush and privacy provided by a huge trumpet vine. I often get lost in time when “in the writing zone” and need to set a timer to remind me when to stop.

If you wrote your autobiography, what would you name it?

That’s a tough question. Maybe… “The Call of the Raven” … maybe.

How long did it take to write your novel, and what was your process?

I wrote short pieces on and off for my first book while I was still teaching. After retiring, I made writing my first priority, so I completed it in one year. After that, I’ve published a book each year. Each book has had a unique process.

My teacher-mentor book was full of true stories that took time to recall and be as authentic as possible. LIAM was in my head for many years; I lost contact with him and finally reconnected through a serious search. That, again, was my wanting to be as truthful as possible. I like writing dialogue to show what’s happening rather than simply telling a story.

My children’s book was the idea of my artist uncle, who wanted to illustrate a story about hedgehogs sneaking into the Louvre. Unfortunately, he passed suddenly. Because I wanted to complete the project in remembrance of him, a very good friend offered to do the illustrations based on the story I wrote. The goal is to motivate children to want to experience the great museums of the world.

I never outline, though I sometimes need to make a timeline. I type very fast when I’m writing. The story often dictates to me as I write; I find that amazing, especially when introducing a new character whose name comes to me, and I don’t know how. It’s a wonderful feeling. As an English teacher, I know how to edit, but I’ve learned that I need Beta readers. I work with three people who are excellent at telling me what I need to “fix.” I appreciate that.

After dozens of edits, I have a photo-artist friend who helps me design the cover. Then I turn it over to a formatter who also finishes the interior and completes the cover design. Many details are required for publishing after the book is written. Most readers who’ve never written or published a book have no idea the stick-to-it-iveness that’s required. I love writing and don’t mind the editing process. I endure the rest of what it takes, including the hours and costs of marketing. I stick to my budget. I have no motivation to get rich or famous as a writer; I simply want readers to enjoy my books. That’s gratifying.

Favorite reads?

My most recent read is Boo Walker’s books, especially the Red Mountain series; he’s an amazing writer. Ann Boelter’s Viking Treasure Huntress series is a wonderful adventure. I often journal self-help books to keep centered, e.g. Joseph Campbell, Eckhart Tolle, John Bradshaw. Patrick Greenwood’s “Sunrise in Saigon“; Janis Wildy “The English Bookshop“; Debbie Seagle makes me laugh out loud; Stephanie Nici; Joy Castro; Laurie Wilhite’s “Paddle to the Pacific.:

My most inspirational books are by Wallace Stegner. How I would have loved to be in his writing classes at Stanford. And of course, almost all of the Classics; I grew up on those and taught many of them K-12.

Do you have any book recommendations?

I write a review for every book that I can give at least four stars. That’s very important to authors. Currently, my favorite recommendations are “Nena” and “Fiona” by Ann Boelter. She is a perfectionistic writer, and I appreciate the care she takes. Aside from Boo Walker’s “Red Mountain” series is “A Spanish Sunrise,” “The Singing Trees,” and “An Unfinished Story.” I could make a very long list. Authors I don’t recommend are those who do not edit well.

What’s your next big project?

I’m doing research for a prequel to my romance novel “Rainbow of Promise.” It’s the story of my German grandparents emigrating from Russia to America in the early 1900s. They had quite a romantic and challenging story. I’m doing a ton of research; it’s going to take time. I’m also working on an anthology of my own short stories and poetry; many are already written. I may finish that this year.

Do you have any advice for aspiring authors?

Make the decision to stick to it. Learn as much as you can from other writers. Dozens of free writing workshops and podcasts are available and helpful. If you don’t know what you don’t know, find out! Grammar, punctuation, and how to write is very important. You will absorb and stumble against many writing rules. Learn them. Then, when you know what you didn’t know, follow your gut.

Once you know what the rules are, you can decide when to break them and do it your way. Rewrite, rewrite, rewrite. Use Beta readers. Put your ego aside and listen to what they say. Don’t get dissuaded or discouraged. Hang in there and make it your own. I often remind myself that it took Margaret Mitchell ten years to write “Gone with the Wind.”