Author interview: C.E. Walz

 Tell us a little about Alley Loo.

Alley Loo is a spooky swamp tale for children ages 3-8, but it's really a mystery story. The swamp can be a mighty spooky place with moss-covered trees, creepy-creaky sounds, and dark pools of water.  But what's really scaring the swamp critters is Alley Loo!  That's the mystery--who is Alley Loo?

Congrats on winning the 200

8 DFP's Best Children's Book Award. What would you tell a writer who is hesitant about entering a writing contest?
I LOVE writing contests...for several reasons!   Contests give me a deadline and specific entry requirements and I like to work within boundaries like that.  It is very difficult these days for freelance authors to get a publisher's attention, but with a contest,at least I know that my work is being read.

Where did you get the inspiration to write Alley Loo?

Several years ago I traveled down to south Georgia with my family to visit the Okefenokee Swamp, one of the largest swamps in the world.  It's a wonderful, kid-friendly place to learn about the swamp, complete with nature hikes, exhibits, wildlife demonstrations, gift shop, and guided boat tours.  While I was on a boat tour, our guide mentioned what he thought was the scariest critter in the swamp--and that's when the idea for Alley Loo came to me.

How did you come up with the name Alley Loo? 

Alley Loo sounded like a spooky name for a swamp critter.  I can hear it being whispered around a campfire at night:  "Better watch out for Alley Looooooo..." and it has great rhyming potential!

How has teaching for over 25 years affected being a children's author?

For me, writing and teaching English go hand in hand.  I've been quite blessed to have been teaching at Woodward Academy in College Park, Georgia, for most of my career.  Woodward is one of the largest private schools in the nation, and some of my students have gone on to become very successful writers, actors, and musicians.  I've always emphasized creative writing in my classroom and shared my writing experiences with my students.  Many young people have been inspired to continue writing beyond their school years, and that makes my own writing experience seem worthwhile.

What was the best writing advice you've received and why?

It may sound like a cliche, but the best writing advice I've received is "write what you know."  I have to be able to visualize what I'm writing and there's no better way to see something in your head than to have lived it!  No, I've not lived in a swamp, but I've been to one AND I've done lots and lots of research.  A writer has to have the picture in her head before the words will make sense.

What's next for C.E. Walz?

I usually have two or three projects going on at once.  I just signed a contract with Dragonfly Publishers for a second children's book, Swamp Lullaby.  This book was inspired by a song I wrote with my husband, who is also a musician.  Because of its swamp setting, It's a companion book for Alley Loo, and my husband and I are working on a CD of swamp music to go along with both of these books. The CD should be out this fall. In addition,  I sent off a manuscript to another contest recently, and I just returned from the Rocky Mountains where I did some research on a native American legend that I'm turning into a middle-grade novel.  And then there's a folder next to my computer with four or five other book ideas...

For more info:

Please visit the official website of C.E. Walz
Read my review of Alley Loo: A Spooky Swamp Tale