Author Bill Kirk in Conversation

by Susan Berger

Meet Bill Kirk, author of several picture books including a non-fiction picture book series.  The Sum of Our Parts. These clever, informative books take us on journeys through the human body. Full of side bar factoids, they are written in rhyme. 

No Bones About it

Circulation Celebration

MusclesMake Us Move 

All three books are illustrated by Eugene Ruble.

P&I:  Bill, where did you get the knowledge to write these books?

BK: I spent three years in pre-Med, then totally changed direction my senior year after bombing Inorganic Chemistry.

      After college I remained curious about what makes the body tick and during nearly 40 years of running, I have had at least my share of aches, pains and injuries. So, learning how to stay healthy and injury free seemed like a useful survival strategy.
      Part of that learning process included becoming a Certified Massage Therapist nearly 15 years ago. That course of study included a heavy dose of anatomy and physiology. Once I figured out how to pronounce Gastrocnemius and Sternocleidomastoid, pretty much everything else fell right into place.

P&I:  When did you start writing Children’s books?
BK:  Around 1998, when our first grandchild was about three years old.  Before that my professional life included 20 years as an Air Force Intelligence Officer and North Africa Specialist.  I also spent 19 years working for the state of California as a Research Analyst and Staff Services Manager.  I did a lot of bureaucratic writing during those years.

By 2004 or so, I finally had a few things published in children’s magazines.  But it wasn’t until after I retired in 2008 that I felt I finally had sufficient time to devote to writing.  It was then that my luck in the book publishing arena began to turn.

P&I:  Tell us about your journey to publication
BK:    Like most authors, my rejection pile—especially in the early days—was large and growing.  I stopped counting several years ago after 300 rejections, mostly because I was running out of room to keep them all.  Besides at least part of the reason I had kept the rejection letters was to be able to tell myself at least I had received an actual response from an editor or publisher—you know, autographs from the publishing elite—like Simon and Shuster, Harcourt, Fish and Stream and Tattoo Quarterly (OK, I made that up.)

Then I got a referral.  A former member of my critique group told me she had submitted a manuscript to a certain publisher.  Although my friend’s manuscript wasn’t accepted, she remembered some of my rhymes and felt they might fit the publisher’s criteria.  Hey, it was worth a shot.  So, after some thought (and taking a look at the publisher’s website), I pulled out “My Grandma’s Kitchen Rules!” and shipped it off electronically. 

Lynda Burch at Guardian Angel Publishing responded almost immediately saying her reviewers loved it and did I have anything else.   All of a sudden, those 300+ rejections evaporated and I cleared my calendar, anticipating the next incoming call would be from Oprah.  It took over a year to hit the street but I’ll never forget that feeling of let’s call it exuberforia. 

P&I:  Is your publisher cutting back on publicity, and if so, how are you handling that?
BK:  No.  If anything, new distributors and outlets are being added in the background.  Also, GAP maintains a comprehensive website to showcase the books of all the authors and artists under the GAP publishing umbrella.  That said, any other book-specific publicity (via press releases, promotion and marketing) is largely the responsibility of the authors. 

The Publication journey was hard.  Promotion…? The closest analogy to publication versus promotion I can think of is when I went to Air Force Winter Survival Training in northern Washington state. 

One phase was a 30-hour prisoner of war segment where we were placed in various “torture” boxes and cells, fed rice and fish heads and allowed to fully experience and develop fear of the unknown.  That was the equivalent of the publication journey.  The next day, we were dropped off in the middle of nowhere, waist-deep in snow, for 5-1/2 days of strenuous winter camping and backpacking on an almost non-existent diet of 500 calories per day (i.e., promotion and marketing).  The prisoner of war phase (i.e., the publication journey) suddenly seemed pleasant by comparison.    

P&I:  How do you handle promotion?
BK: I seek out local schools and libraries for distributing and selling my books. I have also designed and maintain my own website and blog and I look for online networking opportunities to keep my“billkirkwrites” brand in the public eye.

I do readings to classes.

I try to become one with the group so the boys and girls know they can ask any question and make any observation.  That generates some excitement during the reading and makes the kids feel part of the experience.  (I would recommend wearing comfortable clothes, preferably something that will let you get right down on the floor with the kids.)  There’s always more that could be done.  But time is the limiting factor.

P&I:  Do you feel that social media has helped sell any books for you?
BK:  That’s a very good question.  There is some evidence of interest and expressions of support on social media such as Facebook and networks such as LinkedIn, Jacket flap, Authors Den and other such sites.  However, actual sales are difficult to track.  Although some (but not all) sales are tracked on Amazon, there are many sales pathways and distribution databases which are not accessible by authors.  The limited sales data also limit the market analysis that might help authors know where to put their promotional emphasis.  This one is a tough nut to crack.  You just have to do the best you can to get the word out there.  

P&I:  What are you working on right now?
BK:  Mostly I’m working on networking and on updating and revising my website.  Because my blogging has been spotty during the last couple months, I’m devoting a bit more time to writing blog posts.  And I’m already looking forward to National Poetry Month next April when I will once again participate in the Writer’s Digest Poem A Day Challenge.  Anyone who has an interest in or talent for writing poetry may wish to put that on their calendars.  A daily prompt is provided and the challenge is to write a poem each day for 30 days.  At the end of the month, you will have at least a few really good poems and the bones for several more.   

P&I:    Is there something you hope to write or find a home for that you haven’t finished or even started yet? 
BK:    There are a few more books in my anatomical series of rhyming picture books, THE SUM OF OUR PARTS, that are expected to be published over the next couple years or so. The next three are:
A Brainy Refrain. This book will help you learn about the different parts of the brain and some of the nerves that control the various body functions while you are awake or asleep.

"Once Upon An Eyeball"/"How The Nose Knows Roses" The eyes and nose are neighbors. So what better way to learn about both than through two short anatomical rhymes in the same book. Part I covers the eye and Part II is all about the nose. Whichever one you pick, you'll know them both in no time.

"The Skin We're In"    . This book is about  surprising things that our skin does for us.. Get ready to learn the real skinny about skin.

The series will eventually have nine books. Besides those children’s picture books, I’m hoping to publish a collection of my rhymes.  I’m also toying with compiling a book of short humor articles.  Many of them have already appeared on my website where I feature a monthly humor piece.  Life is full of humorous stuff and even some serious stuff that can be looked at in humorous ways—lots of fodder for the writing canon.  Dave Barry, look out!

P&I:    It’s been a pleasure hosting you today, Bill.  Thanks for stopping by.
BK:     You are so welcome.  I appreciate the invitation and I feel honored to be among the many talented authors you have interviewed.  My mom is going to be so proud when I tell her about this….

The Management would like to thank Bill Kirk for this interview.

For more about Bill Kirk visit him at http://www.billkirkwrites.com..
The Book links in this interview are all the The GAP bookstore. Bill's books are also available on amazon. com here