Interview with Children's Author, Kathleen Crawley



Kathleen Crawley has been an advertising executive for over fifteen years. She resides with her husband Ronald Thomson in Redondo Beach, California. She is a native Californian having graduated from UCLA with a B.A in sociology. Colonel Trash Truck is her first book. About writing for children, Kathy says, "I have a number of books I want to write for kids because I think children are fascinating. They are open, creative, and interested in everything; they bring out the kids in me."

Welcome to The Writer's Life, Kathleen.

Can you tell us a little bit about yourself and how long you’ve been writing?


Technically, I’ve been writing for as long as I remember but it wasn’t until I was 38years old that I decided I wanted to BE a writer with the intent to make a living at it. I am always making up stories about someone I see or something taking place in front of me. I have actually brought myself to tears with the sad story I have created about someone at the market who I actually don’t even know! A little odd, yes, but I am very entertaining.

Can you please tell us about your book and why you wrote it?

I’ve been in advertising for over 15 years and my greatest strength is my ability to identify trends and understand why consumers do what they do from eating fast food to attending a theme park. For years, I noticed how kids, especially boys, go bonkers when they see a garbage truck. I also noticed there weren't many books or toys about trash trucks that tell kids how they pick up the trash we create. I thought, “Someone needs to write a book”. Then, one morning, I was awakened by the sound of the garbage truck. I opened my eyes and suddenly saw a clear image in my imagination of Colonel Trash Truck, just the way he looks on the cover of my book and began writing Colonel Trash Truck.

What were some of the biggest challenges you faced writing it?

I must admit, I really had no challenge. I wrote Colonel Trash Truck within a few hours but not because I am such a great writer or that it comes easy. I truly felt like I was taking dictation when I woke up the morning I wrote the majority of Colonel Trash Truck. He had appeared to me in my imagination and he was telling what to write…he had a lot to say.

Do you have a press kit and what do you include in it? Does this press kit appear online and, if so, can you provide a link to where we can see it?

I do have a press kit but it is not available online. It includes a copy of Colonel Trash Truck, a DVD with the Colonel Trash Truck song animation, and coloring postcards that I send to schools and daycare centers.

Have you either spoken to groups of people about your book or appeared on radio or TV? What are your upcoming plans for doing so?

I have done a number of book readings at schools and book stores and been featured at the Festival of Books in UCLA last April and plan to be there in 2010. I have a number of book readings and signing scheduled for the pre-holiday season and prior to Earth Day in April.

Do you have an agent and, if so, would you mind sharing who he/is is? If not, have you ever had an agent or do you even feel it’s necessary to have one?

I do not have an agent and do not feel the need for the time being. I am, however, open to it in the future.

Did you, your agent or publisher prepare a media blitz before the book came out and would you like to tell us about it?

I work with The Cadence Group who is promoting my book through amazon.com, parenting blogs, blog tours and book stores.

Do you plan subsequent books?

Yes. Captain Michael Recycle joins Colonel Trash Truck and Colonel Trash Truck versus Litterbug Louie and his Grafitti Gang.

Thank you for your interview, Kathleen. Would you like to tell my readers where they can find you on the web and how everyone can buy your book?

Yes, thank you for such a great opportunity. The quickest way to get Colonel Trash Truck is to go to www.coloneltrashtruck.com or amazon.com. You can also check out the fun video on youtube as well.

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