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 You can find Kevin here: Personal Web Site: Tangerine Sky Productions: Inspirationstation Magazine: Tweener World Magazine: Skywriter Poets: Christian Children’s Writer’s List: Written Works: Written and Illustrated Works: Illustrated Works: From Kevin’s Web Site: “Kevin Scott Collier, of Grand Haven, Michigan, is a faith-based children's book author for Baker Trittin Press' Tweener Press and the Art Director and cartoonist for the Grand Haven Tribune newspaper. He has had two books published under the Tweener Press Fable Collection series, "barthpenn@heaven.org" and "Esther's Channel". He has illustrated books published by Hidden Picture Books and Book Locker, and also has works scheduled for publication from Heliographica Press, Writers Exchange Publishing, Lulu Press, and New World Publishing. He is a member of the Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators, teaches art and comics illustration classes thoughout the West Michigan area, and has won awards from the Associated Press, United Press International, and The Michigan Press Association for his graphics.” Catherine here: Welcome, Kevin, to our Home on the Net. I thoroughly enjoyed preparing for this interview. You’re a man of many talents, successful in children’s writing, illustrating, publishing, poetry, and teaching. From a previous interview conducted by CraigHart.net, you defined a Christian Writer as one employed by God. It’s clear from the joy you bring to your work that you’re on His staff. Congratulations on the sale of My Shadow is Missing! Would you like to tell us about the book and your co-founded publication services company Tangerine Sky Productions? By the way, I LOVE the bright orange sun on TSP’s web site! You made me blush! Yes, my Creator is my agent on this pathway. I may be contracted by publishers in a business sense, but my contract with God comes first. My Shadow Is Missing was a manuscript I started in 2004 which went unfinished. I became so busy, I nearly forgot about it. When Kristen Halter and I created Tangerine Sky Productions, Inc last August, we had talked about co-writing some books together. I dusted the tale off, and sent it to her for a rewrite. What came from it was chemistry. I was very pleased, and we had it published. It’s a story about a boy named Keegan whose shadow has abandoned him, and the boy chases after it. You see, we are shadows of God, His reflection upon this earth, and that’s the essence of this tale. Through Tangerine Sky Productions, Inc, Kristen Halter and I provide services and expertise to bring writers to print, either via POD or possible outside opportunities. The Tangerine Sky logo took about 5 minutes to design. It’s pretty, but not a lot of time went into it. I like it, too. Your story of the angel and Jordon Mink is fabulous. How did you come up with the idea for barthpenn @heaven.org? As I’ve said in other interviews, it was a joke I told a niece. She asked me if I prayed to God, and I told her, “No, I email him.” I played around with the idea as a story, and did a POD short book of it, and it caught the attention of Baker Trittin Press publishers. They contracted it. What was unfunny, like the original joke, was that their division of children’s books, Tweener Press, which published the book, wanted the rewrite in one month. The original little tale was less that 1/3 of what the actual book would be. So, I sat down every night after my day job at the newspaper and banged out BART (as I call it) in 22 evenings. I really am behind the Tweener Ministry 100%. I am really committed to their mission to bring meaningful reading to kids 8-12. Tell us about the unique format of the book. The appearance of every page in the book resembles email letters. So, I was trying to tell a story in the mail of fictional characters. But, I never imagine it as anything else. I wanted it to have a unique appearance as well as tell a story of hope. There’s even some blank pages in there, intentionally, and a whimsical attachment. Sometimes while I was writing, I’d email angel Bart myself as a joke, but all his letters came back. It was amusing. What started you on the path of writing for children? I never grew up so it seemed logical. Lol. Actually, I've always enjoyed drawing and creating characters. I drew amateur comic books for decades, and have created comic strips for publication since 1979. But it was Paul Trittin and Dr. Marvin Baker that gave me my big break with Tweener Press. They believed in me, and everything that has happened since is because they opened that first door. Have you considered writing or illustrating other types of books? Yes, and I'm already doing some of that. I am designing book covers for several novels written by other writers and upcoming authors. Kristen Halter and I are co-writing a book titled Blind Faith for 2006, which will appeal to a teen and adult audience. We are also writing a Sci-fi humor book titled Heaven Quest as well. You do a lot of your creative work outdoors. Why do you prefer that over a traditional office setting? When you sit at a desk and try to be creative, it’s a job. When you are outdoors on a beach in from of a lake and the sound of rolling waves catches your ear, it’s a recreational thing, and spiritual, too. God isn’t stuck in an office somewhere, why should I be? The outdoors inspires me. I wrote 80% of my book Esther’s Channel outdoors longhand, and typed it into my laptop at nights. I want to get in touch with the life forces I write about. I want to blend in with the scenery. From the photo on your web site, you remind me of the singer-songwriter John Denver. In the background is a mound of snow. I don’t know if it’s a compliment to be compared to a dead folk singer. Lol. Actually, I’ve had others mention the resemblance, and it makes me laugh. I don’t actually look like Mr. Rocky Mountain High at all. I don’t care much for winter either; I’m a spring-to-fall type of guy. What sort of outdoor activities do you enjoy? I love the outdoors. I’d live on some island if I could, or in a tree house in the jungle. I bicycle about 2,000 miles per year, play some tennis, enjoy swimming, water skiing, and parasailing. We pull a parachute behind our speed boat and go up on 500-700 feet of rope. It’s pretty precarious. I work out to stay in shape. I sand board surf on huge dune hills and body board surf in Lake Michigan, too. I’m the oldest kid I know. Would you mind giving us a sneak preview of what you have coming up? Things move so quickly I often wonder what I’ve done and what is coming up. As an example; I recently started and completed 5 book projects in just 7 weeks. One book I co-wrote; the remaining four I illustrated for other writers. I am brushing up my writing on my third Tweener Press manuscript occasionally; it’s about some animals that run around a nursing home. I am drawing many children’s books for New World Publishing authors, and two have been published already; The Adventures of Peter Potato, written by Ronald Harvie and The Little Sea Rock written by Charlotte Palmer McMillen.) I am turning in Mice in My Tummy the first week of November to NWP, which I illustrated for author Andi Houdek, and begin working on illustrations for Benjamin Oliver Flanagan written by Dale Triplett next. Kristen Halter and I have just published our chapter book Natalie’s Ark through Lulu Press, it's 100 pages long. In September Guardian Angel Publications welcomed me aboard as a staff artist for their children’s print book line. They just published my Diligence the Dragon children's book, and I have turned in 4 more children's books which are under contract. Also, I will be illustrating Donna Shepherd’s next picture book for Hidden Pictures Publishing before next spring. Barnaby Gets Lost written by Kimberlie Clark which I drew should be published by Heliographica Press soon. Who knows what will happen next? Only God knows. Returning to Tangerine Sky Productions, what could an aspiring author expect if they brought their book to you? They would expect to talk with Kristen Halter! She’s the editor, and manuscript consultant, not me. She edits manuscripts, handles public relations, and works with our clients closely. She’s a good kid. I will do the design work for their project; render illustrations if required, book covers, and propose marketing ideas, etc. Kristen handles the writing end, but if a client wishes to have me more involved in the writing process, I’m at their disposal. I mean, I’m not hiding out in a closet eating gummy bears or something. But, you never know! Please tell us what a typical writing day might look like to you. The writing for projects with a deadline comes first, and I tend to group them to get them all done at once. I don’t like to mix online columns with book manuscripts I am working on in one sitting. There’s a mindset there, and a difference between writing columns and books. It’s the same with illustrating. I either write or draw, usually not both. Working with other authors (as an illustrator) can be a challenge, occasionally. Sometimes they are anxious, excitable, and impatient and I often feel more like a counselor than an artist. Writers should enjoy the opportunities cast their way, and worry less. They need to eat some gummy bears and relax. I’ve met some wonderful people out there in the Christian fiction book market, truly. Who mentored or inspired you? There have been a lot of people, but I really had no teachers in life. My learning has been as a witness to examples. I have learned more from the behavior of others than anything else. You’ll often find the answers to the big questions are not spoken from the lips of others, but are found within the conscience of your heart. I have always been attracted to sincere people and folks who see wonder in the most simple of things. When you appreciate the little miracles, the big ones are not far from reach. I’m inspired by examples of kindness, compassion, and love. Those are things witnessed, not spoken, and those images will shape your heart. On a special note, please share with us your favorite Bible verse. What makes it your favorite? 1 Corinthians 13: 4-13. “Love is patient and kind, love is not jealous or boastful; it is not arrogant or rude…” It’s really about unconditional love, something you will rarely find in this life here on earth. The love of Jesus is unconditional. And, in a world riddled with conditions, true unconditional seems beyond reach. But with faith, you can feel it. You can experience moments of it. And, most of all, you can be an example of it. If Jesus was returning this week, month, or year, what completed manuscript would you most want to lie at His feet? Well, I'd rather hand him the Bible I received in 1967. It was the first Bible, and only Bible I have ever owned. I would show him how the spine is loose, and the pages are worn, but how the words are still the greatest story ever told. I would then lie at his feet, and thank him for giving me a purpose life in His name. A writer’s life is often composed of deadlines, rejections, networking, and long days of staring at a computer screen. In this mix, how do you manage to keep God your priority? Do you have any suggestions for Christians who write? Deadlines I can handle, I've worked in the newspaper business 25 years, and those deadlines are the worst. I haven't submitted anything that has been rejected, so I don't know how to answer that. Networking is fun, so that's not work, really. Long days are a way of life long before the Christian book opportunities ever transpired, and I stare at a computer screen all day at my day job. I don't have to manage God into my day, as he's peering over my shoulder and beside me always. He is my manager, and my boss, and a great one, too! Any suggestions? Hmmmmm. Yes, believe in your works for Christ as you believe in Christ. God has a great mission for you, but you must believe it to witness it unfold for you. Is there anything else you would like to add? This has been a miraculous first year for me. It astounds my friends, and the one thing I hear from them most often is, “Can you imagine where you will be a year from now?” I always laugh. I know where I will be. I will be still in the palm of God’s hand. And, that’s enough for me. |